The little calf might fall and break a leg. Wait until you get bigger
before you try to lasso anything that's alive. Come on, we'll have
other fun than this. I'm going to drive into town and you Curly tops
can come with me."

So the calf was put back in the stable, and Teddy gave up lassoing
for that day. He and Jan had fun riding to town with Uncle Frank, who
bought them some sticks of peppermint candy.

Baby William had his own fun on the ranch. His mother took care of
him most of the time, leaving Janet and Teddy to do as they pleased.
She wanted them to learn to ride, and she knew they could not do it
and take care of their little brother.

But Trouble had his own ways of having fun. He often watched Teddy
throwing the lasso, and one afternoon, when Ted had finished with his
rope and left it lying on a bench near the house, Trouble picked up
the noose.

"Me lasso, too," he said to himself.

Just what he did no one knew, but not long after Teddy had laid
aside the lariat, as the lasso is sometimes called, loud squawks,
crowings and cackles from the chicken yard were heard.

"What in the world can be the matter with my hens?" cried Aunt Millie.

Ted and Janet ran out to see. What they saw made them want to laugh,
but they did not like to do it.