Of course there were dozens of tricks which these daring riders of the
plains could show the tenderfoot from the South; but when it came down
to hard riding Bob was able to hold his own.
When his powerful horse bolted in such a strange fashion Bob simply
kept his seat, and tried to soothe Domino by soft words. For once the
remedy failed to produce any immediate effect. The animal seemed
fairly wild, and tore along over the open country like mad.
"He never acted like this before in all his life," thought Bob, as he
found considerable difficulty in keeping his saddle, such were the
sudden whirls the black made in his erratic course.
But although he had by no means learned all the things known to old
cowmen, Bob had picked up quite a few points since arriving at the
ranch. He had even heard of a mean trick practiced by revengeful
Mexicans, and others, when they wished to place a rival's life in
danger.
"Something has happened to him since we went into that store," Bob said
again and again, as he puzzled his wits to hit upon an explanation for
the animal's remarkable antics. "Now, what could it have been? Would
any fellow be so mean as to fasten some of those prickly sand burrs
under his tail? Or perhaps it's a poison thorn under the saddle!"
This last idea seemed to strike him as pretty near the truth. He began
to investigate as well as he was able during the rushing of the runaway
horse. When, in pursuing his investigations, he ran his hand under the
flap of the saddle, he could feel the horse start afresh, and his queer
actions seemed worse than ever.
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