He dipped down into the next depression
without seeing her; and when they came face to face at the top of
the rise the result was instantaneous. His pony did an animated
two-step not on the programme. It took one glance at the
diabolical machine, and went up on its hind legs, preliminary to
giving an elaborate exhibition of pitching. The rider indulged in
vivid profanity and plied his quirt vigorously. But the bronco,
with the fear of this unknown evil on its soul, varied its
bucking so effectively that the puncher astride its hurricane
deck was forced, in the language of his kind, to "take the dust."
His red head sailed through the air and landed in the white sand
at the girl's feet. For a moment he sat in the road and gazed
with chagrin after the vanishing heels of his mount. Then his
wrathful eyes came round to the owner of the machine that had
caused the eruption. His mouth had opened to give adequate
expression to his feelings, when he discovered anew the forgotten
fact that he was dealing with a woman. His jaw hung open for an
instant in amaze; and when he remembered the unedited vocabulary
he had turned loose on the world a flood of purple swept his
tanned face.
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