"Nothin' but High-Tail."
"I thought I told you not to rope that calf," said Uncle Frank, rising.
"I didn't. I jest held my loop in front of some carrots and High-Tail shoves his head into it. Then I says, 'Whoosh!' and he jumps back--and I hung on."
"How in Sam Hill did you get him here?" queried Uncle Frank.
"Jest held a carrot to his nose--and he walked along tryin' to get it."
"Well you shake off that loop and haze him back into the corral."
High-Tail, having eaten the carrot, decided to go elsewhere. He backed away and blatted. Little Jim took a quick dally round a veranda post. High-Tail plunged and fought the rope.
"Turn him loose!" cried Uncle Frank.
"What's the matter?" said Aunt Jane, appearing in the doorway.
Little Jim eased off the dally, but clung to the rope. High-Tail whirled and started for the corral. Little Jim set back on his heels, but Little Jim was a mere item in High-Tail's wild career toward freedom. A patter of hoofs in the dark, and Little Jim and the calf disappeared around the corner of the barn.