He imitated the ringmaster’s phraseology.  “La-a-a-dies and gen’l’mun, the price has gone up.  The ‘death-defyin’, dare-devils that laugh at danger’ ain’t none too ready to ride my hoss.  Maybe the price is too low for ’em.  It’s raised.  One thousand dollars—­cash—­for any man in hearin’ of me that’ll ride my pet.”

There was a stir among the cattlemen, but still none of them moved forward toward the great horse; and as if he sensed his victory he raised and shook his ugly head and neighed.  A mighty laugh answered that challenge; this was a sort of “horse-humour” that great New York could not overlook, and in that mirth even the big grey man, Drew, joined.  The laughter stopped with an amazing suddenness making the following silence impressive as when a storm that has roared and howled about a house falls mute, then all the dwellers in the house look to one another and wait for the voice of the thunder.  So all of New York that sat in the long galleries of the Garden hushed its laughter and looked askance at one another and waited.  The big grey man rose and cursed softly.

For the slender young fellow in evening dress at whom the stallion had rushed a moment before was stripping off his coat, his vest, and rolling up the stiff cuffs of his sleeves.  Then he dropped a hand on the edge of the box, vaulted lightly into the arena, and walked straight toward the horse.

CHAPTER II

SPORTING CHANCE

It might easily have been made melodramatic by any hesitation as he approached, but, with a businesslike directness, he went right up to the men who held the fighting horse.

He said:  “Put a saddle on him, boys, and I’ll try my hand.”

They could not answer at once, for Werther’s “pet,” as if he recognized the newcomer, made a sudden lunge and was brought to a stop only after he had dragged his sweating handlers around and around in a small circle.  Here Werther himself came running up, puffing with surprise.

“Son,” he said eagerly, “I’m not aiming to do you no harm.  I was only calling the bluff of those four-flushers.”

The slender youth finished rolling up his left sleeve and smiled down at the other.

“Put on the saddle,” he said.

Werther looked at him anxiously; then his eyes brightened with a solution.  He stepped closer and laid a hand on the other’s arm.

“Son, if you’re broke and want to get the price of a few squares just say the word and I’ll fix you.  I been busted myself in my own day, but don’t try your hand with my hoss.  He ain’t just a buckin’ hoss; he’s a man-killer, lad.  I’m tellin’ you straight.  And this floor ain’t so soft as the sawdust makes it look,” he ended with a grin.

The younger man considered the animal seriously.

“I’m not broke; I’ve simply taken a fancy to your horse.  If you don’t mind, I’d like to try him out.  Seems too bad, in a way, for a brute like that to put it over on ten thousand people without getting a run for his money—­a sporting chance, eh?”