"Flower, Jessie Graham - Grace Harlowe - Overland Riders 01 - Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders On the Great American Desert" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flower Jessie Graham)

not the pony's fault, however, but Hippy's clumsiness that caused the disaster."

"That's right, have all the fun at my expense you wish. I am the comedian of
this outfit anyway," protested Hippy. "Let's see you ride one of them, Brown
Eyes," he urged, speaking to Grace.
"Please have them saddled one by one and I will try them, Mr. Lang," directed
Grace. "Any pony that I can ride, the others surely can."
The guide nodded and turned away. Grace watched the saddling with keen interest,
especially the saddling of the first pony selected for her, which squealed and
pawed and danced as the cinch-girth was being tightened.
"Vicious!" objected Elfreda Briggs.
"No," answered Grace. "Just playful. If the others are no worse, we shall have a
good bunch of horses."
The saddle being secured, Grace stepped up and petted the little animal for a
few moments, then mounted. The pony danced under her, then, at a word, galloped
off. The Overland girl rode but a short distance, and, turning back, trotted up
to the group smilingly.
"Spirited but sweet," was her comment as she dismounted. "He will be all right
if he is used right. Try him, Elfreda. I know you will like him."
Miss Briggs took her test without falling off, and promptly claimed the little
brown animal as her own private mount.
"You made a most excellent selection, Mr. Lang," complimented Grace, after she
had tried the ponies for the rest of the girls and found them suitable. Each
girl also tried out and selected her own mount from those that Grace had
approved, the cowboys and half the village being interested spectators. Grace
was pleased, both with the ponies and with the riding of her girl friends. Not
the least of those who were pleased was Hi Lang, who, before the coming of the
outfit, had felt considerable doubt as to the success of the proposed jaunt. Now
he knew that the Overland Riders were not rank greenhorns, as he expressed it to
himself.
"Which animal did you think of selecting for me!" asked Grace smilingly.
"Reckoned you'd do that for yourself," answered the guide.
"Thank you. Please have that black roped and brought out. He is the one I think
will please me," replied Grace promptly.
"What, that black bronc'? He's a lively one, Mrs. Gray. Don't reckon you'll be
able to stick on him at all," warned Hi Lang.
"I have fallen off before, sir. Have him roped and brought out. I'll try him
out."
The guide shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the head wrangler.
"Why take such unnecessary chances!" begged Tom Gray. "Surely there are plenty
of ponies in the bunch that are safe for you to ride."
"Tom, surely the black one can be no worse than that wild western pony that I
bought last fall and rode. You know he was supposed to be the last word in
viciousness and bucking ability, but I rode him successfully."
"Very well, go ahead. You won't be satisfied until you have tried him, but
remember, I warned you," returned Grace's husband with some heat.
"Now, Tom," begged Grace pleadingly. "Please don't be a cross bear and spoil my
trip. You have been so perfectly lovely about it right up to this moment, that
it would be too bad if you were to get peevish now. If you say I must not, of
course I will not try to ride the animal, but I do so want him."