nohow fo' a while."

"My lawsy!" ejaculated Rhoda's father, "seems to me most of you
fellers ain't fitted to take care of a saw horse, let alone a sure
enough pony. Some of you will have to ride mules if you don't stop
ruinin' my horseflesh."

"Wal, Tumbleweed is right fidgety," complained the cowboy.

"What do you want to ride--somethin' broke to a side-saddle?"
demanded the ranchman in disgust. "Go rope a new pony out of that
band Hesitation's just brought up. And be mighty careful not to get
an outlaw. Hess says there's two or three in that band that are
fresh out of the hills."

These side remarks excited Walter. The girls, too, were interested.
Grace said she hoped there was not any horse as bad as the pony
that ran away at Lakeview, and which Rhoda had stopped so
dexterously.

"My _dear_!" laughed Rhoda, "that wasn't a bad pony. She was
only frisky. But Hess shall find you a perfectly safe mount."

"I hope you will extend that promise to me," said Nan, laughing.
"If I am to ride I want something I can stay on."

"No bucking broncos for me, either," cried Bess. "At least, not
until I have learned to ride better than I do at present."

They went to bed that night wearied after traveling so far, but