"Yes, they are nice ponies," agreed the cowboy. "Well, good-bye and good luck."
Biding up to the house, to tell their mother they were going for a ride, but would keep within sight or calling distance, Ted and Jan were soon guiding their ponies across the prairie.
The children had soon learned to sit well in the saddles, and knew how to guide their ponies. And the little animals were very safe.
"Somehow or other, I don't feel at all worried here when the children are out of my sight—I mean Teddy and Janet," said Mrs. Martin to her husband, when the Curlytops had ridden away.
"Yes, Uncle Frank's ranch does seem a safe place for them," Mr. Martin answered. "Lots of 'down East' people think the West is a dangerous place. Well, maybe it is in spots, but it is very nice here."
On over the prairies rode Teddy and Janet. Now and then the little girl would stop her pony and look back.
"What are you looking for?" Teddy asked. "Do you think Trouble is following us?"
"No, but we mustn't go too far from the house. We must stay in sight of it, mother said."
"Well, we will," promised Ted.
But, after a while, perhaps it was because it was so nice to ride along on the ponies' backs, or because the little animals went faster than Ted or Janet imagined—I don't know just how it did happen, but, all at once, Jan looked back and gave a cry.