"I was thinking we'd soon need somebody to hold our horses," said Nort, not a little pleased at his own joking words, however nonsensical his two companions thought them. "What happened?"
"That's what I want to know," chimed in Bud. "All of a sudden my pinto here started off as if there was a race."
"Same with me," went on Dick.
"Something must have frightened the ponies," said Nort.
"Yes, and we've got to find out what it was," declared Bud. "Come on back." He wheeled his mount as he spoke.
"Maybe we can't get 'em back," suggested Dick.
"Well, at the place where they begin to balk we'll know the trouble started," suggested the ranchman's son. "And we'll know we have to look for the trouble right there."
"What do you reckon it could have been to make them bolt so suddenly?"
Dick wanted to know.
"Skunks, maybe," was the thought Nort offered.
"Not many skunks in this neighborhood, thank goodness," said Bud. "I wouldn't say there aren't any, but I've never heard of them."