"Oh, look how they run to the fence to meet us!" cried Rose, as some of the ponies in the corral trotted toward the captain and the children.
"That's because they think I have a bit of bread and sugar for them," said Captain Roy.
"Have you?" asked Violet.
"Yes. I hardly ever come out without bringing them something," answered the old soldier.
He reached over the fence to pat the glossy necks and soft noses of the ponies, feeding them bits of dried bread, of which he seemed to have a lot in his pockets.
"Bill Johnson saves me all his old crusts for the ponies," Captain Roy said to Russ. "And if you bring the little horses something to eat each time you come out they'll like you all the more, and get very tame."
"I'll do it," said Russ.
They stood looking at the ponies for some little time, and then Russ decided he wanted to make a boat and sail it in the creek that was not far from the ranch house.
"I'll sail one, too," said Laddie.
"And we'll take our dolls down by the creek and let them have a bath," said Rose to Violet.