And when he spoke Pinky began to nod his head up and down and paw with one hoof. The children were delighted—even Russ.
"Oh! I believe he is trying to explain," Russ cried. "Ask him another question, Daddy."
Mr. Bunker laughed rather grimly. "Let Vi ask the pony questions; she can think of them faster than I can. Or let Laddie ask him a riddle. There is no time to experiment with ponies now."
He and Cowboy Jack started away from the ranch house, and Russ, for fear of being left behind, urged his pinto after them.
He felt very much frightened because of Rose's absence. And he felt, too, as though it might be his fault, although none of the older people had suggested such a thing. Still, Russ knew that he ought to be beside his sister right now!
CHAPTER XXI
THE LAME COYOTE
Rose had, of course, heard of coyotes. She had heard them talked about here at Cowboy Jack's ranch. But she had not caught a glimpse of one before. Nor did she know this slinking creature behind the bushes was that animal which ranchmen consider such a pest.
Although coyotes are very cowardly by nature and will seldom attack human beings, even if starving or enraged, the beasts do kill young calves and lambs and raid the ranch hen-houses just as foxes do in the East.