They rode their ponies up alongside of each other, and got them in line. Then Russ said:
"We'll ride to the bridge. The first one there wins the race."
"Yes," said Laddie, "we'll race to the bridge."
This bridge was one across the creek, at a place where the water was deeper than anywhere else on Uncle Fred's ranch. The boys were told they must not cross the bridge unless some older person was with them, and they were not allowed to ride into the creek near the bridge because of the deep water.
"All ready?" asked Russ of his brother, as they sat on their ponies.
"All ready, yes."
"Then go!"
"Gid-dap!" cried Laddie.
"Gid-dap!" yelled Russ.
The ponies began to trot. Russ and Laddie did not have whips, and they would not have used them if they had had, for they loved their ponies and were very kind to them. But they tapped the ponies with their hands or their heels and shook the reins and called to them. This made the ponies run almost as fast as if they had been whipped, and was a great deal nicer. Besides, Russ and Laddie did not want to ride too fast, for they might have fallen off.