She commenced operations by going straight up in the air--so straight that
for an instant Ann thought she must surely topple backwards, and wondered
with a little breathless thrill of admiration how Brett contrived to keep
his seat at all at such an angle. Possibly the mare wondered also, for,
coming down once more on all four feet to find the hated incumbrance still
astride her back, she reared again, immediately. Ann had a vision of two
black hoofs pawing the air indignantly, then, swift as a flash of light,
Brett had flung himself forward on the mare's neck and brought his crop
down on her head between the pointed ears. She came down to earth with a
bang, plunged violently, then, giving an evil twist to her whole body,
started bucking with all the wicked energy that was in her.
Brett had a magnificent seat, but twice she nearly had him out of the
saddle, and it is certain that if he had not been blest with almost
inexhaustible staying power, combined with a pliant strength of muscle,
he would have come off second best in the contest of wills, for the mare
seemed tireless, and looked as though she could go on bucking--and enjoying
the process, too--till the crack of doom.
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