"Ike," thought Jack. "I wonder where I heard that name before." Then the memory of the conversation under his window came to him. "Oh, well, guess it's all right to have this horse," the boy thought. "I can't harm him."
As the cowboy turned back into the stable a grim smile passed over his face.
"Good gallop!" he muttered. "Lucky if you don't break your neck."
"Come on! I'll race you!" called Nat, and the three boys were soon speeding over the level plain.
CHAPTER XXVI
JACK'S WILD RIDE
The boys thought they had never been on such fine horses. The animals had an easy gallop that carried one over the ground at a rapid pace, yet which was not hard for a beginner.
"Talk about your sport!" exclaimed Jack. "This is glorious; eh,
John?"
"Best thing I ever struck," replied the Indian. "I feel like my wild ancestors, riding forth to battle. Whoop! la Whoopee! Whoop ah Whoope! Wow! Wow!! Wow!"
It was a regular Indian war-cry that issued from John's mouth, and, leaning forward on his horse's neck, he urged the beast to a terrific pace.