"Think you can do it?" Jack asked.
"Oh yes, I'll soon have this out. You almost had it yourself, but you were working at it the wrong way."
He proved that he knew what he was talking about a few minutes later, by exclaiming:
"There it is!"
He held up the stone that had caused all the trouble. It was of peculiar shape, which accounted for the manner in which it had become wedged fast.
"Thanks!" Jack exclaimed. "Now the question is about the shoe. Is it so loose that I can't go on?"
"It is a bit loose," the man said. "But I can fix that for you. I carry a spare shoe or two myself. They wouldn't fit your pony, for they are too large. But I've got a hammer and nails in my saddle bags. I ride about a good bit, and my nag often casts a shoe, so I go prepared. I'll have this one tightened up in a jiffy."
Jack watched Ryan interestedly. The man seemed very capable, and it is often the custom of cowboys or range riders to carry with them spare shoes, nails and a hammer, to reset a shoe of their mounts when far from a blacksmith shop.
In a few minutes the shoe was as tight as necessary, and Jack could again mount his pony and ride on.
"I'm a thousand times obliged to you," he said to Ryan. "It was quite a job, wasn't it?"