e avalanche as it slowed down on the
level. All movement then was checked violently. He appeared to be half
buried in sand. While he struggled to extricate himself the thick dust
blew away and settled so that he could see. Wildfire lay before him, at
the edge of the slide, and now he was not so deeply embedded as he had
been up on the slope. He was struggling and probably soon would have
been able to get out. The line of fire was close now, but Slone did not
fear that.

At his shrill whistle Nagger bounded toward him, obedient, but
snorting, with ears laid back. He halted. A second whistle started him
again. Slone finally dug himself out of the sand, pulled the lassoes
out, and ran the length of them toward Nagger. The black showed both
fear and fight. His eyes roiled and he half shied away.

"Come on!" called Slone, harshly.

He got a hand on the horse, pulled him round, and, mounting in a flash,
wound both lassoes round the pommel of the saddle.

"Haul him out, Nagger, old boy!" cried Slone, and he dug spurs into the
black.

One plunge of Nagger's slid the stallion out of the sand. Snorting,
wild, blinded, Wildfire got up, shaking in every limb. He could not see
his enemies. The blowing smoke, right in his nose, made scent
impossible. But in the taut lassoes he sensed the direction of his
captors. He plunged, rearing at the end of the plunge, and struck out
viciously with his hoofs. Slone, quick with spur and bridle, swerved
Nagger aside and Wildfire, off his balance, went down with a crash.
Slone dragged him, stretched him out, pulled him over twice before he
got forefeet planted. Once up, he reared again, screeching his rage,
striking wildly with his hoofs. Slone wheeled aside and toppled him
over again.

"Wildfire, it's no fair fight," he called, grimly. "But you led me a
chase.... An' you learn right now I'm boss!"

Again he dragged the stallion. He was ruthless. He would have to be so,
stopping just short of maiming or killing the horse, else he would
never break him. But Wildfire was nimble. He got to his feet and this
time he lunged out. Nagger, powerful as he was, could not sustain the
tremendous shock, and went down. Slone saved himself with a rider's
supple skill, falling clear of the horse, and he leaped again into the
saddle as Nagger pounded up. Nagger braced his huge frame and held the
plunging stallion. But the saddle slipped a little, the cinches
cracked. Slone eased the strain by wheeling aft