Scott took pains to make friends with the horse which seemed to remember him, submitted to his caresses and nuzzled the side of his coat for the expected lump of sugar. With McGoorty’s help Scott managed to get the ponderous stock saddle in place and the strange cinches properly fastened. It was not done without a struggle for the big fellow was not at all sure that he liked it, but kindness seemed to have a great influence over him, and a little petting did more to soothe him than twenty men.
Mr. Ramsey backed off to look at him. “Gee, he certainly is a beauty,” he exclaimed admiringly. “Will you let me try him this afternoon?”
Scott hesitated. “The boys might think that I was afraid to ride him again,” he said doubtfully.
“Don’t let that worry you,” McGoorty said, “you showed your nerve this morning and can do what you please now.”
“Then you better ride him,” Scott said, “it was only luck this morning that he did not break my neck. I had no control over him and could not make him go anywhere that he did not want to go. If we want to go anywhere in particular this afternoon you better take him. But,” he added decidedly, “if there is any question of making good I’ll ride him if he kills me.”
“All right,” laughed the supervisor, “he will get plenty of chance to do that later. You tie that blanket roll back of my saddle and take my horse.” Mr. Ramsey was an expert horseman and really wanted to give the horse a little training. He was pleased at Scott’s attitude. He led the big black out into the street and waited for Scott to mount. McGoorty whispered to him furtively, “Jed is crazy because the kid got that stallion away from him. He is going to get even with the kid if he can. You better warn him.”
Mr. Ramsey nodded. “All ready?” he called to Scott.
Scott answered by swinging the hanging rein over the horse’s head and scrambling into the saddle. He made a rather undignified mount because he had not counted on the Western pony’s habit of starting forward as soon as the rein is in place. It is up to the rider to catch the stirrup at once; his failure to do so makes the horse nervous. However, Scott managed to crawl on even though he missed the stirrup. Mr. Ramsey mounted at the same time, prepared for trouble. The black seemed a little startled at first and reared almost straight up, but a gentle voice reassured him and he quieted down.
“Ride ahead a little,” Mr. Ramsey called, “and he’ll come along. He does not know much about being driven.”
Scott trotted his mount down the street and the black quickly overtook him. He could not bear to have another horse ahead of him.