"O Joyce!" he cried, "let's ride Ned around in the pasture."

"Without a saddle?" exclaimed Joyce.

"Of course," answered Don in his most grown up tone. "Why not?"

"All right," said Joyce a little doubtfully.

They went out through the barn lot, leaving the gate open behind them.
Then, letting down the bars, they soon found themselves in the pasture.

Joyce led old Ned to the fence, holding to his mane. She climbed up on
the fence, and then onto the horse's back. Don quickly climbed on behind
her.

In his younger days, Ned had been taught a number of tricks, which he
still remembered. He would shake hands, and nod his head, and ride up
the steps. And when a rider was on his back, if he gripped his knees in
Ned's sides, the old horse would gallop away as fast as he could.

Always, before this, the children had ridden with a saddle; and so they
had never had to hold fast with their knees. But today Joyce knew she
would have to hold on tightly, so she pressed her knees hard against old
Ned's sides. Instantly he started to gallop across the pasture. He went
up the lane, through the open gate into the barn lot, and on to the
watering trough. Joyce still held to his mane with all her might, gripping
him tightly with her knees. Don bounced up and down behind her, with his
arms about her waist.

When Ned reached the watering trough, he stopped. Suddenly he lowered