The intelligent pony had suddenly come to a stop, bracing himself for the shock, and when Gladiator came to the end of the rope he turned completely over, and landed on his back with a thud that shook the earth.

Bud had galloped forward, and was about to throw himself from the saddle to tie the brute, when, with the agility of a cat, the bull was on its feet, shaking its head and stamping the earth in a perfect fury of anger and desperation.  But it was by no means beaten, and ran at Bud, who took to his heels.  When again it arrived at the end of the rope, it went head over heels, much to its loss of wind and dignity.

This time it did not rise so briskly, and Ted gave it all the time it wanted.

Suddenly Stella dashed out and rode toward the bull, and when a few feet from it curved off, with the angry brute in full pursuit.  Had her pony stumbled it would have been all up with her, for Gladiator was wild with rage, and when it was again thrown its fury knew no bounds.

“A few more throws like that will settle him, I think,” shouted Ted.  “Bait him again, Bud.”

Again Bud rode out, and the bull took after him as before, and, when he was jerked onto his back by the rope, he lay there.

Ted rode rapidly up to him, and, detaching a rope which had been knotted around his waist, tied the bull’s legs fore and aft, and the exhausted brute did not make an objection.

For several minutes the bull lay panting, then it recovered.

When it came to its normal condition at last, it struggled furiously to get to its feet, but each time it got up Ted jerked it to its side, standing close to it so that it could see him.

Time and again it thus fruitlessly struggled.

It seemed to realize suddenly that it had been a very foolish bull, and that it had met its master, who now stood over him ready to tumble him over at any moment.

So he lay quite still, following Ted’s movements with its great, dark eyes, out of which all the ferocity had vanished.

Ted stepped up to it and patted its head, and it made no objection to these attentions.  Then he began to untie the bonds that held its legs together.

“Look out fer him, he’s treacherous,” called Bud.

“He’s all right,” answered Ted.  “I’ll bet he’ll eat out of my hand.”

When it felt that it was free again, the bull got slowly to his feet and walked sedately in the direction of the herd.

“You’ve broken the spirit of that bull,” said Stella.

“You bet I have,” said Ted.  “That’s just what he needed.  He’ll be a good bull now.  If he isn’t, I’ll give him some more.”

Ted now rode to the head of the herd with Stella, and the other boys took their places.

“All right, Billy.  Send them forward,” shouted Ted to the rear of the herd.

Skillfully Ted set the herd to moving toward the south, where the other herds were gathering under the management of the boys.