The pony broke into a trot. Someone passed Ripley a switch, with which he dealt his animal a stinging blow. Away went pony and rider at a slow canter.
"Fine gait this little fellow has," exulted Fred, while cheers went up from the small boys.
Suddenly the animal slowed down to a walk. Fred applied two sharp cuts with the switch, again starting his mount. Fred turned and came cantering back toward the group, feeling mightily proud of himself.
Suddenly the pony stopped, trembling in every limb.
"Get off, young man!" called someone. "Your pony is going to fall!"
Fred got off, feeling rather peculiar. He wished that the six fellow high school boys over on the truck would move off.
Mr. Dodge hurried over to the young man, looking very much concerned.
"Fred," murmured the banker, "for all his fine looks I'm afraid there is something wrong with your pony."
"What is it?" asked Fred, looking, as he felt, vastly troubled.
At that moment an automobile stopped out in the road.