The Story of Ben 37 



nearly always wished to make our acquaintance. 

 They would follow Spencer and myself for a while, and 

 then turn back to see if the pony loitering in the rear 

 was not more friendly. And Buck on these occasions 

 would hurry ahead, more than anxious to meet them. 

 But they never waited for an introduction. With 

 loud snorts and tails in the air they either shot away 

 across the open fields or tore madly past us up the 

 turnpike, while Buckskin stood looking after them 

 in puzzled disappointment. 



One day, just as we were rounding a turn in the road, 

 we met a farmer and his wife driving a two-horse buggy. 

 Buckskin had just come loping up and was only a few 

 yards behind us, and the sight of a bear riding a horse 

 so pleased the farmer that he paid little attention to 

 his horses, who almost went crazy with fright. Buck 

 looked at the dancing team in amazement, and Ben was 

 as much interested as any one. But the woman, in the 

 very beginning, took sides with the farm team, and sat 

 with terrified eyes clutching her husband's arm and 

 yelling for him to be careful. Finally her fright and 

 cries got on his nerves, and he stopped laughing long 

 enough to shout ''Will you shut up?'' in a voice 

 that effectually broke up the meeting. 



One night we asked for lodging at a farm run by an 

 old lady. As I knocked at the door of the house and 

 proffered our request she at once gave her consent, and 

 directed us to the rear of the stable ^ where we would 



