"Did you think I was trying to catch him?
I just wanted to see him go.

The horse doesn't live that could put a man within roping distance of any one in that bunch on a straightaway run, and the black can run circles around the whole outfit.

I had him once, though." "You caught that black!" exclaimed Patches--incredulously.
Phil grinned.

"I sure had him for a little while." "But what is he doing out here running loose, then ?" demanded the other.
"Got away, did he ?" "Got away, nothing.

Fact is, he belongs to me right now, in a way, and I wouldn't swap him for any string of cow-horses that I ever saw." Then, as they rode toward the home ranch, Phil told the story that is known throughout all that country.
"It was when the black was a yearling," he said.