oment he turned to the task of subduing the
splendid bay horse for which he had traded his gentle Jack. One Sunday,
when he had a few hours off, Mose went to Alf, the chief "roper," and
asked him to help him catch "Kintuck," as Reynolds called the bay.

"All right," said Alf; "I'll tie him up in a jiffy."

"Can you get him without marking him all up?"

"I don't believe it. He's going to thrash around like h--l a-blazin';
we'll have to choke him down."

Mose shook his head. "I can't stand that. I s'pose it'll skin his
fetlocks if you get him by the feet."

"Oh, it may, may not; depends on how he struggles."

Mose refused to allow his shining, proud-necked stallion to be roped and
thrown, and asked the boys to help drive him into a strong corral,
together with five or six other horses. This was done, and stripping
himself as for a race, Mose entered the coral and began walking rapidly
round and round, following the excited animals. Hour after hour he kept
this steady, circling walk, till the other horses were weary, till
Kintuck ceased to snort, till the blaze of excitement passed out of his
eyes, till he walked with a wondering backward glance, as if to ask:
"Two-legged creature, why do you so persistently follow me?"

The cowboys jeered at first, but after a time they began to marvel at
the dogged walk of the youth. They gathered about the walls of the
corral and laid bets on the outcome. At the end of the third hour
Kintuck walked with a mechanical air, all the fire and fury gone out of
him. He began to allow his pursuer to approach him closely, almost near
enough to be touched. At the end of the four hours he allowed Mose to
lay his hand on his nose, and Mose petted him and went to dinner. Odds
stood in Mose's favor as he returned to the corral. He was covered with
dust and sweat, but he was confident. He began to speak to the horse in
a gentle, firm voice. At times the stallion faced him with head lifted,
a singular look in his eyes, as though he meditated leaping upon his
captor. At first Mose took no notice of these actions, did not slacken
his pace, but continued to press the bay on and on. At last he began to
approach the horse with his hand lifted, looking him in the eyes and
speaking to him. Snorting as if with terror, the splendid animal faced
him again and again, only to wheel at the last moment.

The cowboys were profanely contemptuous. "Think of taking all that
trouble."

"Rope him, and put a sadd