Page:Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch.djvu/56

46 though Freckles danced more than was necessary.

These cow ponies never walk—unless they are dead tired; about Freckles' easiest motion was a canter that carried Ruth over the prairie so swiftly that her loosened hair flowed behind her in the wind, and for a time she could not speak—until she became adjusted to the pony's motion. But she liked riding astride much better than on a side-saddle, and she soon lost her fear. Ike had given her some good advice about the holding of her reins so that a sharp pull on Freckles' curb would instantly bring the pony down to a dead stop. The bashful one had screwed tiny spurs into the heels of her high boots and given her a light quirt, or whip.

The other girls—all but Heavy—were, as we have seen, more used to riding than the girl of the Red Mill; but with the stout girl the whole party had a great deal of fun. Of course, Jennie Stone expected to cause hilarity among her friends; she "poked fun" at herself all the time, so could not object if the others laughed.

"I'll never in this world be able to get into a saddle without a kitchen chair to step upon," Jennie groaned, as she saw the other girls choosing their ponies. "Mercy! if I got on that little Freckles, he'd squat right down—I know he would! You'll have to find something bigger than these rabbits for me to ride on."