“Now, Archie,” said Carlos, as he stopped to wipe the big drops of perspiration from his face, “what would you do with this fellow?”

The boys, who never neglected an opportunity to pick up items of information concerning every thing that came in their way, had been taking lessons of the Rancheros in horsemanship, throwing the lasso, and managing wild cattle; and Carlos thought this a proper occasion to ascertain how much they remembered of what they had learned.

“Well,” replied Archie, pulling off his sombrero, and digging his fingers into his head, to stir up his ideas, “I’d keep pulling and hauling at him until I got him tired out, and then I think I could manage him.”

“That would take up too much time,” said Carlos; “I’ve got other work to do, and I am in a hurry.”

“Make your lasso fast to the horn of your saddle, and start up your horse, and drag him in,” suggested Frank.

“That’s the idea, and that’s just what I’m going to do,” said Carlos.

But that was just what the Ranchero did not do.  While he was preparing to put this plan into operation, the steer suddenly jumped to his feet, and made another desperate attempt to effect his escape, and this time he was successful.  There was a loud snap, Carlos’s heels made a flourish in the air like the shafts of a windmill, and, in an instant, he was stretched at full length on the ground.  His saddle-girth had parted, and the steer was at liberty to take himself off, which he did in short order.

The boys gazed in astonishment at the fallen horseman, who righted himself with alacrity, stretched his arms and legs to satisfy himself that there were no bones broken, and then commenced shouting some orders to his companion, who put spurs to his horse and started in pursuit of the steer, which was galloping over the prairie, dragging Carlos’s saddle after him.  He was very soon overtaken, and Felix, raising himself in his stirrups, swung his lasso around his head once or twice, to make sure of an accurate aim, and launched it at the steer.  The lariat whistled through the air, as true to its course as a ball from a rifle, the noose settled down over his horns, the horse stopped suddenly, and the runaway lay struggling on the ground.

His last attempt at escape seemed to have exhausted his energies, for when he had regained his feet, he allowed Felix to lead him back to the gate and into the cow-pen, where he was turned loose, to remain until his owner should send for him.

CHAPTER II.

Frank’s new home.

Frank and Archie, as we have before remarked, had been in California about two months; and, between riding, hunting, visiting, and assisting Uncle James, who was engaged in selling off his stock and closing up his business, preparatory to his return to Lawrence, they had passed the time most agreeably.  They were as fond as ever of excitement, were almost constantly in the saddle, and Mr. Winters often said that if they and their horses and dog did not travel a thousand miles every day, it was not because they did not try.