She trotted into the sand corral on Buster, leading the blindfolded Sioux and followed at a short distance by Peter Knight, who was master of ceremonies for the day.  A little murmur went through the grandstand.  Judith’s curls were bundled up under a sombrero.  She wore a man’s silk shirt with a soft collar.  It was of the color of the sky.  Her khaki divided skirt came just below the knee, meeting a pair of high-heeled riding-boots.  Her gauntleted gloves were deep fringed.  She rode slowly, silhouetted against the distant yellow of the plains.  Sioux, a russet red, silken flanks gleaming in the sun, moved his head uneasily, but followed like a dog on leash.

Having crossed to the north end of the corral, Judith waited for Peter to come up on Yankee.  Douglas, circling outside the fence uneasily, heard him say: 

“You are a plumb fool, Judith.  Anybody that plays round on foot with a bull isn’t a cowman.  It’s a life and death matter with a brute like Sioux, and you know it.”

“You slip his blindfold off when I dismount,” she said, and she trotted back to the south end of the enclosure.  Here she dismounted, slipped the reins over Buster’s head and turned to face the bull.  Peter jerked the blindfold from the bull’s eyes.  The great creature lifted his head and Peter backed away.  Judith spread her arms wide and whistled.  Sioux snorted, pawed the ground, and started on a thundering gallop toward his mistress.

There was a startled murmur from the grandstand.  Buster snorted and turned.  Without moving, Judith gave a shrill whistle.  Buster wheeled and came back to his first position, where he stood trembling.  On came Sioux, his hoofs rocking the echoes, and with every apparent intention of goring his mistress.  But ten feet from Judith he pulled up with a jerk and with stiffened fore legs slid to her side, and rubbed his great head against her shoulder.  Judith threw her arm about his neck and hugged him, white teeth flashed at the grandstand, which rose to its feet and shouted.

Judith raised her hand for quiet, then leaped to Buster’s saddle without touching the stirrups.  She put the uneasy horse to a slow trot and gave a peculiar soft whistle to Sioux.  Obediently he fell in behind the horse, and Judith gave her audience a unique exhibition of “follow your leader.”  Buster trotted, galloped, and backed.  Sioux imitated him without protest, until Judith brought up before the grandstand with both animals kneeling on their fore legs, noses to the sand.  Then Sioux jumped excitedly to his feet as again applause broke out.  Judith took his lead rope now and led him to the middle of the corral where she blindfolded him and backed to Peter.  Peter strode across the corral carrying a saddle.

“Once more, Judith,” he said, “I ask you not to do this.”

“Saddle him quick, Peter.  Then get on Buster and ride him off when I’m up.”