He felt in an instant from the fierce quiver running through the mighty frame that he had a demon beneath him.

The Austrians, who doubtless had not expected him to accept the challenge, were alarmed and the younger, whose name John afterward learned to be Pappenheim, shouted: "Jump off! He'll kill you!" John had no notion of leaving the saddle, either willingly or unwillingly.

He believed that after his training by the cowboys he could ride anything, and when he felt the great frame draw itself together he was ready.

He saw too that he could make capital.

He would impress these volatile Austrians and at the same time he would recommend himself as an expert horsemen to Prince Karl of Auersperg.
The black horse made a series of mighty jumps, any one of which would have sent a novice flying, but the trained rider on his back knew instinctively which way he was going to leap, and swayed easily every time.