pranks," a speech at which the boys all laughed heartily.

"Me too," agreed Chunky.

"You'll take what you get. You couldn't stay on any kind of horse
for long at a time. Why, you'd fall off one of those wooden horses
that they have in harness shops," announced Ned Rector witheringly.

"I can ride as well as you can," retorted the fat boy, looking his
tormentor straight in the eyes.

"Chunky means business when he looks at you that way," laughed
Walter. "Better keep away from him, Ned."

"Think I'll take the pink-eyed one," decided Tad. "Pink-eye. That
will be a good name for him. Got a rope?"

"Yes, kin you rope him?"

"I'll try if you will stir them up a bit," answered the
freckle-faced boy.

"You might as well pick out our ponies, too," observed the
Professor. "You are the only one of our party who is a competent
judge of horse flesh."

Tad nodded. His rope was held loosely in his hand, the broad loop
lying on the ground a few feet behind him, while the cowboy began
milling the biting, kicking animals about the corral.