Page:Patches (1928).pdf/84

 About two weeks later, one evening, word was passed around among the cowboys that the kid was going to tide Patches to a finish. He was going to set him out. So most of the cowboys gathered around the corral to see the fun. They were seated upon nail kegs and boxes, cracking jokes at Larry's expense.

When Patches was at last brought out all bridled and saddled he looked docile enough and Larry did not think he would give him any trouble, but as soon as he was well in the saddle Patches bucked even more violently than he had with his uncle the first day. Straight into the air he bucked at least three feet and when he came down stiff-legged Larry thought that every tooth in his head hit against its fellow and every vertebra in his backbone received a terrible bang. Then without waiting to say as much as by your leave he sprang into the air sunfishing and his feet were thrown so violently to the right that Larry had to clutch the saddle horn to keep his seat.

"Pulling the lever," cried one of the cowboys. "Choking the horn!" exclaimed another. "Chopping biscuit," cried a third.

"Aw, let the kid alone," growled Big Bill, "you don't want to see him killed, do you? He is doing all right."

Patches' next maneuver was to crowhop, after which he pulled off three or more running bucks. And each time his feet struck the ground it seemed to Larry that