“Don’t sit too closely in your saddle,” Maud Warren leaned over and spoke patronizingly to Barbara.
“Thank you!” Bab replied.
The girls were now riding swiftly across the meadow.
Ralph, Hugh, Ruth, Mollie and Grace left their places and hurried down to the fence that inclosed the riding ring.
At the first fence two of the horses refused to jump. The other four sprang easily over the bars.
By the rules of the contest, the girls were not allowed to urge their horses, so the two riders went quietly back.
At the second hurdle, another horse faltered. This left the riding contest to Bab, Maud Warren, and a Lenox girl, Bertha Brokaw.
Barbara was as gay and happy as possible. She had no thought of fear in riding. Beauty was a splendid little horse accustomed to being ridden across country. The beautiful little animal jumped over the low bars as easily as if she were running along the ground.
Bertha Brokaw was the first of the three girls to go over the third hurdle. Bab was close behind her.
Barbara had just risen in her saddle. “Go it, Beauty!” she whispered, gently.