Tad rose in the stirrups as he neared the spot where the hat lay, keeping his eyes fixed intently upon it.
All at once he dropped to the saddle and slipped the left foot from the stirrup. Grasping the pommel with the left hand, he appeared to dive head first toward the ground.
They saw his long hair almost brush the grass; one of his hands swept down and up, and once more Tad Butler rose standing, in his stirrups, uttering a cowboy yell as he waved the sombrero on high.
The boys howled with delight—that is, all did save Stacy Brown.
"Huh! That's nothing. I can do that myself," he grunted. "I've seen them do that in the wild west shows too many times not to know how myself."
Walter smiled, with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Why not show us, then?" he said.
"I will," replied Chunky, confidently.
"Got your life insured?" asked Ned. "If you haven't I would advise you to go easy. Tad is an experienced rider."
"Don't you worry about me, Ned Rector. Guess I know how to ride. Let me have that hat, Tad," he demanded as the latter came trotting up to the group.