g approached him cautiously with a saddle, and dropped it on
his back. There was a lightning-like motion, and the saddle was tossed
a dozen feet away, while the two men at the horse's head were jerked
almost off their feet. Again and again the saddle was laid on his
back, to remain there barely an instant. But at the fifth attempt, to
the astonishment of all, Sunnysides stood still, as if, being an
equine Napoleon, he had changed his plan of battle in the face of the
enemy. Without further resistance, he permitted the saddle to be
adjusted and cinched, permitted the men to lead him out of the corral
into the larger one adjoining it, and permitted Haig to mount him and
take the bridle reins in his hand.

"I'll be damned!" said Curly. "You'd think--"

"Shut up!" cried Farrish. "That's a bluff."

"Now then!" ordered Haig, pointing to the rope that still held one
forefoot.

The rope was removed.

"The other!"

Pete and Farrish slipped off the lariat that remained noosed around
the outlaw's neck, and stepped back.

For some seconds there was no sound, no motion, no sign of any design
on the part of Sunnysides. Then, with the swiftness and surprise of a
flash of powder in the dark, a shocking thing occurred. Without a
preliminary movement, either of lunging or bucking or leaping to one
side, or any of the expected tactics, Sunnysides, with incredible
suddenness, reared straight up into the air, threw himself over, and
fell on his back, pinning Haig to the ground beneath him.

Before any of the men could move, the horse rolled over sprawling,
scrambled to his feet, and charged at the fence. There was a crash
and the sound of splintering wood. The top plank fell, broken in two
jagged pieces, and the horse's forefeet were over the second plank.
But before he could leap again, Curley had caught the bridle rein, and
swung the outlaw's head around, holding him there until Bill had
leaned over the broken fence and roped the forelegs once more. After a
moment of furious struggle, Sunnysides appeared to realize that it was
useless; and thus the two men held him, with his forefeet still
hanging outside the fence, while they turned their eyes toward Haig.

Farrish and the Indian knelt at his side. He lay quite still,
unconscious, and for a moment they thought him dead. Pete put his head
down on Haig's breast, and listened. Then he rose to his feet.

"Whisky!" he muttered, and ran toward the stable.

In two minutes he was b