After some difficulty the horses were secured and the party set out. The boys had scoured the neighboring country, had been able to obtain two old side saddles, and at Davis’s store a new one. The horses were far from being high-bred steeds, but Daniella could ride anything, Hartley declared, and was given the best looking nag. Nan did not mind a trotting beast, Mary Lee was mounted upon an old white horse who had a fair gait and the boys took what was left.
“There’s lots more fun in this sort of thing, just for once,” said Ran, “than in riding our own good steeds at home. This seems somehow to fit the camp and other things. Do you remember, girls, how we used to go riding up the mountain at home? Doesn’t it remind you of the old days?”
“Where are we going?” asked Hartley.
“Oh, up the mountain,” Mary Lee told him.
“Past Place o’ Pines?”
“We shall have to.”
“Then we’ll start ahead.” As Hartley had been the first to think of the expedition he had been able to secure the best horses from a farmer in the neighborhood. Daniella’s bay mare would not allow anything to pass her and kept ahead persistently.
Ran’s gray had a habit of stopping suddenly as if to get breath, and then of starting on again at a fast walk. Ashby’s old black would break into a racking gallop at the smallest provocation so that no two could keep the same gait and the laughter which the various mounts provoked nearly prevented the riders from keeping their seats. Daniella, who had learned to ride on her uncle’s ranch, and who had had Mr. Scott himself for her teacher, was a very Amazon. “There isn’t any stunt she can’t do,” said Hartley admiringly, “and she’s promised to try them all, from standing up in her saddle to——”
“Jumping through a hoop,” put in Ran.
“Nonsense,” said Hartley disgustedly. “I didn’t mean circus tricks.”