8．
Answer the questions.
Now it was
Jerry's turn. And Jerry would ride Wild Lady！I watched Jerry in the chute.
Jerry
dropped down on the horse's back. He was ready to go. "Outside!" He
called.
The gate
of the chute opened. And then nothing. Wild Lady didn't move. What was the
matter?
Suddenly
Wild Lady jumped out like a tiger. She jumped-with all four feet off the
ground. She was quick, still I could see Jerry's spurs(马刺). He had them in the right place.
Again Wild
Lady jumped, kicking and turning. Then she began a quick turn. Now I knew why
all the riders were afraid of her. Around and around she went. Again and again
she dug her front legs into the ground and kicked up behind. Jerry's neck moved
back each time the horse jumped.
Now Wild
Lady was turning fast-so fast that Jerry looked like part of her. Once I saw
Jerry bounce(单起)up high, off to one side, "That's it!" I
thought. But no! She was still riding.
I was
trying to count off the seconds with my fingers. But I was lost in the watching.
I dug my nails(指甲)into my hand until
it hurt. Wild Lady jumped higher and higher.
Again the
horse threw Jerry into the air. The people around me stood up. I couldn't see
what was happening. But I heard, "Come on!" That was Jerry landing on
the horse's back. Everybody was shouting. And they were still shouting when the
bell rang. It was all over. Jerry had stayed on that horse for eight long
seconds.
Now I had
seen Jerry ride. I don't know how he felt while he was on that horse. But I
know how I felt watching him. That eight seconds was a long time for Jerry. It
was a long time for me too!
