“What on earth can have happened to them?” asked Jack.
“You’ve got me,” confessed Walt. “I can’t imagine.”
“It’s certain that they were all right and lively a few minutes ago,” said Ralph.
“Not a doubt of it,” agreed Jack. “Well, then, it must be something that they’ve eaten right here.”
“Yes, but what?” objected Ralph Stetson. “There’s nothing here for them to eat but this grass.”
“Maybe it’s the grass, then. It is peculiar looking grass, now you come to look at it. Look at these funny tufts on it.”
“I guess you’re right, Walt,” agreed Jack, “but let’s try if we can’t get the ponies on their feet. Maybe it will work off.”
Not without a lot of exertion were the ponies induced to stand up, and then they appeared to be so sleepy that they could hardly keep their feet.
“Let’s mount them and ride them up and down,” said Jack; “that may help to work off whatever it is that ails them.”
The three lads mounted as Jack suggested and began riding their ponies vigorously up and down under the cottonwoods. After a short time the treatment did appear to be effective. The ponies’ eyes, which had been dull and lifeless, brightened up and they shook their heads and tossed their manes vigorously.