"Three minutes an' forty-three seconds!" announced the Mayor. "Git
ready for the next one. . . . _Go git him_!"
This time the feat was accomplished in a little over two minutes and
the successful cowboy was greeted with a round of applause. Several
others missed their throws or got into difficulty, and Purdy turned to
the girl:
"If I got any luck at all I'd ort to grab off this here contest. They
hain't be'n no fancy ropin' done yet. If I c'n hind-leg mine they
won't be nothin' to it." He rode swiftly away and a moment later, to
the Mayor's "_Go git him_!" dashed out after a red and white steer that
plunged down the field with head down and tail lashing the air. Purdy
crowded his quarry closer than had any of the others and with a swift
sweep of his loop enmeshed the two hind legs of the steer. The next
moment the animal was down and the cowpuncher had a hind foot fast in
the tie rope, Several seconds passed as the man fought for a fore
foot--seconds which to the breathlessly watching girl seemed hours.
Suddenly he sprang erect. "One minute an' forty-nine seconds!"
announced the Mayor and the crowd cheered wildly.
Upon the lumber pile Alice Marcum ceased her handclapping as her eyes
met those of a cowboy who had ridden up unobserved and sat his horse at
almost the exact spot that had, a few moments before, been occupied by
Purdy.
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