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 back to the ranch house. He was still snorting, prancing, and pulling on the bit, but well in hand.

"You done well, kid," cried Long Tom.

"You set him out," called Big Bill.

"We all knowed you could do it," cried Texas Joe, "he's your'n from now on."

This prophecy proved true, for although they had some lively tussles, Larry was always master after that.

"Uncle Henry," said the boy, the morning following his tussle with Patches, "I am going to train Patches in a different way from that you cowboys use. Now I have got the upper hand of him I am going to make him love me and make him do things for me because he wants to."

"That will be all right for you," returned Uncle Henry, "but it will take time. We cow-punchers cannot spend the time to fuss with them in that way."

Just about this time the cow-punchers turned their attention to the home ranch and Larry was given some of the range riding to do. At first he did this on Old Dobbin but after a week or two his uncle said he could take Patches and the boy's cup of joy was full.

It was irksome work for the cow-punchers riding on wheel harrows and sulky plows up and down the endless acres on the home ranch, but it was work that had to be done. They sweated and cussed but still they