“You keep out of here!” answered Fred merrily. “If you don’t I’ll go for a ride on Carrots.”
“Don’t you dare touch Carrots!” exclaimed Jack, in alarm. “You leave that horse alone!”
“Maybe he can put some pep in Carrots, Jack, so you’ll win the race,” suggested Andy.
“Carrots has got pep enough,” answered the oldest of the Rover boys. “And, anyway, what exercise he needs he’s going to get from me.”
“Oh, it’s too hot to run any more, anyway,” came from Randy. “Let’s call it off.”
“Fred, don’t touch that horse, do you hear?” cried Jack.
“Will you promise to leave me alone?” questioned his cousin through the closed door.
“Yes. Just the same, I think you ought to let us in on that secret of yours.”
“Oh, I’m holding back for your own good,” answered Fred, and then he allowed the others to pull the door open and they came into the barn.
It was a perfect midsummer day, with a bright blue sky overhead and a gentle breeze blowing from the west. One end of the big barn was already half filled with sweet-scented hay and beyond the building could be seen many acres of growing fields and orchards, all in the best condition.