During that short period, and only during that short period, you must slip off your horse, run up to the steer and quickly tie his front and hind feet together, so tightly and in such a way that he cannot get up.

Then you throw up your hands or your hat, and your time is taken.

While you are out of your saddle your horse will, if well trained, himself hold the steer down by carefully adjusting the strain on the rope which still connects the animal's horns with the horn on the saddle.
[Illustration: WOUND UP.

(Horse tangled in rope.) (By C.M.

Russell.)] I may here tell a wonderful story of a "buck" nigger who sometimes attended these gatherings.