"Here's your horse, Ranger," the cowboy called.
"Is he safe?" asked Jack. "I'm not a very good rider."
"A girl could manage him," was the answer. "See, he's as gentle as a lamb," and so it seemed for the man opened the animal's mouth and put his hand in.
Thus encouraged, Jack mounted, and the horse moved off at a slow pace.
"I guess he's all right," Jack thought
In a few more minutes two more horses were saddled, and Nat and John had mounted.
"Now for a good gallop over the plain," called Nat, as he led the way from the stable yard.
Jack was the last to ride forth. As he was passing the gate that closed the corral he heard some one call to the man who had just saddled the steeds:
"Who'd you give the black horse to, Ike?"
"None of your business," was the reply. "I'm running this game."