Page:Patches (1928).pdf/133

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side of the goal and Long Tom immediately drove the ball back to Larry and he in turn shot it through between the posts on the unguarded side and the score was tied.

The cowboys' friends yelled with delight. For a few minutes pandemonium reigned but the chukker was nearly over. The referee's whistle sounded before play could be resumed.

"Wal, boys, we've tied them up so far," said Bill, "and we ain't very badly blowed yet but the wurst is yet to come."

There was a fifteen minute intermission between the halves and this gave the cow-punchers a chance to hold a council of war. Bill called them together and they talked the situation over while they were waiting for their new ponies.

"We are all set for the next chukker," said Bill, "our hosses are all right, but what bothers me is the sixth chukker. Our bays and grays nearly ruined us the last time we rode them."

"I've been thinking about that," said Pony, "but I don't see what else we can do. We can't kill our best hosses."

"Why not play our first string for the sixth chukker and put the pintos and Baldy up for the seventh," said Long Tom.

"Baldy won't stand it," put in Hank Brodie who was