The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-10-20
nv a catapult, and fell a dozen feet

thought he was seriously injured, but
he rose and staggered unsteadily
across the ring.
Grimthrope stood tapping his rid
ing boot with his whip. II have twen-
ty notes here" he said, for the man
who can ride him"
Jack Grieve got up from his place
in the front row and walked forward,
carrying his heavy saddle, with the
stirrup irons jingling in his stride.
They took off Hughes saddle and
put Jacks in its place. The big horse,
now thoroughly reused. struck and
plunged. and 1t took twelve minutes
to saddle him, while the crowd
hummed with excitement: "By
heaven, that horse can buck!" "Jack
can never ride one side of him!"
"Nor any other man on the Lachlan
River!"
In a dead silence the famous horse
breaker stole into the saddle, the
cloth was pulled from the horses
eyes, and up he went in a savage
buck. Jack Grieve loosened his reins
anu uTONc tuc with a
roar of pain the great horse gave one
bound into the air, and surely never
before or since did horse buck so
big and high; like an arrow from a
bow the trim little figure of the
breaker shot through the air, and he
landed twenty feet away at Grim
thorpe's feet, while shout Of wonder
and dismay rose from the benches.
The horse was caught and unsad-
died and Jack Grieve went back to
his place, and under the tan his face
was very white.
/ Grimthorpe smiled at the audience.
at takes the cattlemen to ride a
horse like that" he said, with quiet
scorn. Il should have brought some
thing easier down here"
There was some Kissing and booing
from the back Of the tent at this
speech, and somebody called out,
Let's see you ride him yourself!"
Rut Grimthorpe only tapped his
boot with his riding whip and smiled.
| looked across at David Wilson.
Dave had a reputation second to no
man as buckjump rider, and II any
man in that tent could ride the horse
/ knew it was the tall, 1.-THE overseer
of Mulga Plains. A far finer rider
than Hughie Warren, but less ad-
dicted to displaying his prowess, we
knew at once that If Dave consented
to try we should see such a battle
between man and beast as had seldom
been seen before.
TRY him, Dave" l said. But he
shook his head. Somebody heard me
and caught at the name. Dave Will
son, Dave Wilson! Now then,
Davie,"
In a moment the cry was taken up
by hundred throats.
Dave" l said, remember the
honor of the station"
A sudden CLEAN awoke in his keen,
honest blue eyes. If there was one
thing above all others that was a
cherished fetish with David Wilson,
it was the honor of Mulga Plains. His
ambition was that our station should
be first in stock, first in honorable
dealing, and, before everything, first
in sport, and that it should be beaten
in horsemanship was thought intol-
cradle to him. He turned to me
quickly:
Run and fetch your little hunting
saddle, Billy!"
| hesitated. "But Dave I said,
"tho little saddle-he'll let you
Hurry up" he broke in authorita-
lively, your hunting saddle!"
l was out of the tent in a flash.
When | returned with the dainty
English saddle on my arm the bush
men stood up all around the ring
= and cheered Justify. Dave was talk
ing to Grimthorpe. He turned to me,
took the saddle and unstrapped its
silk web girths and surcingle, and at
, tached the leather gear from
, Hughes.
In few minutes the big black
horse was ready for the fray, and
Dave stepped forward. cool, watchful
and determined Before we had real
ized that he had gathered the reins
he was safe in the saddle, and up
; went the black with snort of anger.
Coming down with nasty turn in
| the air he lost his footing and fell,
but Wilson srrang clear, and, still
holding the bride, gave the black a
> kick in the ribs
The horse rose, and as he did so
, Dave threw his leg over him, and as
man and beast leaped six feet in the
r air great cheer burst from the
crowd.
Then began royal battle for SUI
5 premacy; the outlaw bucked straight
l forward big and high, side-lurched
: bucked backward, reared and turned
t in the air, or spun like top in one
4 place; but through it all the tall
4 1.-THE figure of the rider swayed easily
r to every motion, and seemed to be 9
part of the whirling catherine whecl
: below
A Suddenly there burst from the
4 audience a wild yell of triumph
D Times up! Times up! Good ole
q Dayei" Tho bushmen mad with de