Dixie flushed and bit her lips while she hurriedly asked herself the game question: “What would I say or do if I really loved Sylvia?”
Catching the hand of the child, who was beginning to sulk, the older girl exclaimed brightly: “Come on and see Pegasus. You may ride him if you wish.”
The burro came across the barnyard when Dixie called, and nosed her pocket, hoping for a lump of sugar.
Sylvia actually clapped her hands with delight. “I’ve always wanted to ride on a pony, but mother was afraid I would fall. May I ride this cunning little horse? He’s so small it wouldn’t hurt me if I did fall off.”
Willingly Dixie put the simple harness over the head of the mouse-colored burro, and then patiently, for a long hour, she walked around and around the house, leading while Sylvia rode. At last as it was nearing noon the little hostess, weary indeed, suggested that they go indoors and have their lunch, and afterwards, when Sylvia said she was sleepy, Dixie hung the hammock under the pines, and the unwelcome guest curled up in it, and, lulled by the wind in the trees, she was soon asleep.
Dixie wished that she, too, might rest, but with an added member in her family to feed, she set about baking, tired but happy because she believed that the “pretend game” was really progressing.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
THE YOUNG ENGINEER DREAMS
Carol and Jimmy-Boy returned alone from school, for Ken, with the book he had borrowed from “dear teacher” under his arm, had gone at once to the top of the low peak, and, having shaded his eyes from the glare of the sun that was low in the west, he looked toward the high mountain beyond. Then, as he did not find what he sought, he let his gaze wander slowly over the valley that was silvery with sand and sagebrush.
With a sudden whoop of joy, he leaped from the rock upon which he had been standing, and started running as best he could down the trail on the lake side of the low mountain, toward a column of wavering smoke which could be seen half a mile away, near a stream where small trout were plentiful. As he approached the place, the column of smoke died down, but he no longer needed its guidance for he had reached the rushing, bubbling mountain brook and was soon clambering up over the jagged rocks, pausing now and then to halloo. At first only a hollow echo replied, but soon he heard the voice for which he had listened.
“Hi-ho! Friend or foe?”