"But not now," insisted Jan. "We'll only go for a little way, or I'm
not going to play."

"All right," Teddy agreed. "We won't go very far."

So they went out to the stable where their ponies were kept, and
there one of the cowboys kindly saddled Clipclap and Star Face for
the little Curlytops. Uncle Frank had given orders to his men that
they were to let the children have the ponies whenever it was safe to
ride, and this was one of the nicest days of the summer.

"Don't let 'em run away with you!" laughed the cowboy, as he helped
Jan and Ted into their saddles.

"Oh, Clipclap and Star Pace won't run away!" declared the little
girl. "They're too nice."

"Yes, they are nice ponies," agreed the cowboy. "Well, good-bye and
good luck."

Biding up to the house, to tell their mother they were going for a
ride, but would keep within sight or calling distance, Ted and Jan
were soon guiding their ponies across the prairie.

The children had soon learned to sit well in the saddles, and knew
how to guide their ponies. And the little animals were very safe.

"Somehow or other, I don't feel at all worried here when the
children are out of my sight--I mean Teddy and Janet," said Mrs.
Martin to her husband, when the Curlytops had ridden away.