ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



to be. Early one morning she saddled the 

 thin, hide-bound, stupid-looking, pink-eyed 

 pony and attempted to start for a neighboring 

 farm-house. The pony not being of the same 

 mind as his rider, braced his fore-feet and with 

 his head lowered stubbornly refused to move. 

 When persistently urged he let fly his hind feet 

 several times in genuine bronco fashion then 

 started off on a slow, hard trot that rattled the 

 rider's teeth and shook her up generally. Pres- 

 ently he seemed to think it was time to stop 

 and with his head down stood perfectly motion- 

 less amid blows and forcible pulling by the bit. 

 Then without warning, when it was least ex- 

 pected, he sprang forward with the bit between 

 his teeth and ran for several miles at top speed ; 

 with one final spring, he unceremoniously braced 

 his fore-feet and came to a standstill, throwing 

 the rider almost out of the saddle and over 

 his head. After this he seemed convinced that 

 he was not to part company with his mount. 

 He loped along at an easy gait in the most ap- 

 proved way until they reached their destination. 

 It rained all that night and the following day. 

 During this time the pony had been stabled 

 [108] 



