So well, indeed, had they learned horsemanship that on a certain glorious morning before sunrise, the seven youngsters were already in saddle, alert for the long-coveted ride to Bald Eagle Rock, under the guidance of Captain Lem himself, with Silent Pete and another ranchman to carry the luncheon upon two soberer steeds. It was to be an all-day’s outing and a goodly little company which would enjoy it. As soon as possible after arrival in New York Mrs. Ford had procured and sent back to San Leon, readymade habits and riding clothes for her girls and boys, not forgetting to include one for absent Jim, which Dorothy had carefully placed along with his other belongings in his own room; so that now arrayed in these gifts they all looked fine and fit.
“We might be going for a ride in the Park instead of a climb through woods and over rocks! I do hope we won’t tear our clothes!” said careful Helena; while Molly returned with native carelessness:
“Well, I think a ride to the top of the Rockies is worth at least one habit!”
“I shan’t spoil mine, not ’nless I get tumbled off Blanca, someway. I’ve got dozens of safety-pins and I shall pin my skirt—I mean drawers—whatever they call these ‘divided’ things—so tight they can’t get torn. I never had a habit before. Course not. I never even had a horse,” said Alfaretta.
“Well, without the horse you wouldn’t have needed the habit, dearie. But I do like this riding astride, as Lady Gray thought best we should do on hard trips. And aren’t we happy? Only—only—if poor Jim was here!” answered Dorothy, with a little cry of delight that ended rather drearily.
But now they were off! And no further thought of anything or anybody except the pleasure of the moment rose in any mind.
Captain Lem had not over-rated the difficulties of that trip. The beginning was fairly easy, the road or trail wide enough for two to ride side by side, and one had leisure to admire the surroundings. But when they came to that same turn of the roads, beyond the river, and took the route which unhappy James had followed in his delirium, they could no longer travel in pairs.
And now was proved the good judgment of Captain Lem in training them to a familiar knowledge of their horses and in their close friendship.
“Guide ’em—point out the way you want ’em to go—then trust the creatur’s to do the best for them and you!” advised the old sharpshooter, halting at the top of the first steep climb, to breathe his own horse and let the stragglers come up. “More ’n that you can’t maybe all follow just the same track. Blanca there, is goin’ to pick her way, cautious an’ careful as a gal in a nice new white frock, like them the Little One wears. She ain’t goin’ to tear her white dress, Alfaretty, so don’t you get scared if she falls a good ways behind the rest. She’s a sociable beast, is Blanca, and she’ll get to the top all right, give her time. But Dolly’s calico’ll nigh bust herself to be first. More ’n that she’s the keenest nose for a shortcut of any horse in the batch. She’s little and she’s light, and she’ll trust herself in places ’t no bigger creatur’ would tackle. All right, everybody? Girths tight? Stirrups to suit? Then—trust your horses’ wits and—let her go!”