With the words Dick threw up his spurred heel and gave Chief a savage dig in the flank. The proud horse reared at the insult. Fred, caught unawares, was all but flung to the ground. He clutched the saddle horn in time to save himself from a serious fall, while the horse, with free head flung low, bucked and pitched madly along the road. The other riders followed close, Dick laughing at his mischief, Jim shouting encouragement: “Stay with him, boy, stay with him!”
Luckily Chief did not whirl, but bucked straight ahead until his rider gradually drew up his head and quieted him.
The danger past, a violent temper seized Fred. He swung the horse about to face Dick, and with—
“Take that, you sneak!” he fetched his tormentor a stinging crack in the face with his quirt.
Dick jerked out his revolver and fired. Fortunately again for Fred, Chief had leaped as the quirt struck, and began to plunge again along the road. Dick was whirling to shoot again, when another pistol flashed in the moonlight and Jim shouted,
“Stop! you shoot again and I’ll bore you.” His tone meant business and Dick checked himself.
“What does this damned work mean, anyway?” demanded Jim as Fred came back, feverish with excitement.
“Mean,” shouted Fred, “it means that this coward ripped my horse’s flank with his spur.”
“Did you do that, Dick?” again demanded the peacemaker.
“Yes, I did, and I’ll do it again,” was the sullen reply.