from behind a clump of bushes. He took his own time in picking his way
down the hillside, as though he might be glad to keep Johnnie Green
waiting.

"Come on! Come on!" Johnnie called. "Come and get your oats!" And he
shook the measure before him.

To his great surprise, Twinkleheels didn't come running up and reach out
to get the oats. Instead, he stopped short, with his feet planted
squarely under him, as if he didn't intend to budge. Johnnie Green took
one step towards him. And then Twinkleheels whisked around and ran. He
shook his head and kicked up his heels. And something very like a laugh
came floating back to Johnnie Green's ears.

Johnnie followed him all over the pasture. And when the dinner horn
sounded at the farmhouse Johnnie had to go home without Twinkleheels.

The afternoon was half gone before Twinkleheels let his young master put
the halter on him. By that time Johnnie Green had learned something that
he never forgot.

Never again did he cheat Twinkleheels with an empty measure. He knew
that Twinkleheels expected fair play, just as much as the boys with whom
Johnnie played ball, over the hill.




V