“He must have streaked it. I don’t think he’d take the road to town–he must have gone straight home to the Captain’s. Oh, dear, I’ll have to tell him I used Ernest’s horse without permission, and I’ve got these awful clothes on! It just seems as if the Captain has to know every single bad thing I ever do.” Chicken Little heaved a long sigh and clucked to Calico.
They had almost reached the Captain’s gate when they saw Wing Fan approaching on horseback, leading the truant Caliph. Chicken Little was immensely relieved to find, as they came near, that neither saddle nor bridle had suffered from the run away.
Wing Fan was also greatly relieved to find that no one had been hurt.
“Me velly ’fraid honorable brother have bad fall. Captain Clarke no home. I bring horse, find out.”
Wing held Caliph while Jane mounted, and rode a little way with her to make sure he would not be fractious, but Caliph seemed to have had his fling and bowled along smoothly.
212In the meantime Ernest and Sherm had arrived and were plying Gertie with questions between mouthfuls. Gertie parried as long as she could, shutting her lips together tight when they began to press her too hard.
“I’d just like to know what they are up to now. That precious sister of mine can get into more scrapes than any kid I ever saw.”
“And Katy isn’t far behind her,” added Sherm, hoping Gertie would try to defend her absent sister and let something out.
Chicken Little and Katy took the horses to the barn, carefully unsaddled Caliph, and rubbed both horses down and fed them, before going back to the orchard. They forgot all about their unusual dress.
They arrived there, tired and flushed, in time to help the boys finish the last melon.