Swinging her rope above her head, she chased it back until it was about
in the middle of the field, and suddenly the rope left her hand
unerringly and shot through the air, seemed to hesitate for an instant,
then fell over the steer's head.
Custer came to a stop the moment the rope left her hand, with his body
well braced. The steer went to the end of the rope as fast as it could
go, then was flung in the air, and lay upon his back sprawling like some
ridiculous four-legged crab, while the girl leaped from her saddle, ran
swiftly across the intervening space, tied his legs together, and held
up her hand.
The crowd fairly went wild with enthusiasm at her feat, as she mounted
again, leaving the steer to the tender mercies of the cow-punchers, who
flocked about her. Then she dashed out of the arena, waving her hat in
recognition of the applause.
Then the bunch of wild Montana horses, which never had felt the saddle,
were driven in, and Ted offered a twenty-dollar gold piece to any
puncher who could rope, saddle, and bridle, and ride one of the bronchos
ten minutes without being thrown.
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