Oh yes, young feller, you can try it; only leave us a lock of your hair to remember you by, and we'll give you a first-class funeral." By this time two Mexican riders, who had started in pursuit of the runaway animal, had cornered it in an angle of the high fence surrounding the camp-grounds, flung their ropes over its head, and were dragging it back, choking and gasping for breath, to the scene of its recent triumph.
"Hold on!" cried Ridge in Spanish, running towards them as he spoke, and shouting commands in their own language.
Slipping the cruel ropes from the neck of the quivering mare, that stared at him with wild eyes, Ridge petted and soothed her, at the same time talking gently in Spanish, a tongue that she showed signs of understanding by pricking forward her shapely ears.

After a little Ridge led the animal to a watering-trough, where she drank greedily, and then into camp, where he begged a handful of sugar from one of the cooks.
Some ten minutes later, without having yet attempted to gain the saddle, he led the mare back to the place from which they had started, all the while talking to her and stroking her glossy neck.
"Why don't you ride ?" growled Silas Pine, who still remained on the scene of his recent discomfiture, and had watched Ridge's movements curiously.

"Any fool can lead a hoss to water and back again." For answer Ridge gathered up the bridle reins, and placing his hands on pommel and cantle, sprang lightly into the saddle.
The mare laid her ears flat back and began to tremble with rage, but her rider, bending low over the proud neck, talked to her as though she were a human being, and in another moment they were off like the wind.
Twice they circled the entire grounds at a speed as yet unequalled in the camp, and then drew up sharply where Silas Pine still stood awaiting them.
"Mr.Norris," said that individual, stepping forward, "I owe you an apology, and must say I never saw a finer--" Just here the mare snapped viciously at the bronco-buster, from whose spurs her flanks were still bleeding, and leaped sideways with so sudden a movement that any but a most practiced rider would have been flung to the ground.

Without appearing in the least disconcerted by this performance, Ridge began to reply to Silas Pine, but was interrupted by the approach of the two mounted officers, who had watched the recent lesson in bronco-breaking with deep interest.
"Can you do that with any horse ?" inquired Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt, abruptly.
"I believe I can, sir," replied Ridge, lifting his hand in salute.
"I heard you talking in Spanish.

Do you speak it fluently ?" "As well as I do English, sir." "I believe you wish to enlist in this regiment ?" "I do, sir." "You are a friend of Private Van Kyp ?" "Yes, sir." "The one in whose behalf he was about to make application." Ridge again answered in the affirmative.
"Colonel, I believe we want this young man." "I believe we do," replied Colonel Wood.