an
awfully cute boy, Katy, and Gertie is just sweet. And you couldn't ride
bare back half so well sidewise."

It took some persuasion to secure Gertie's consent, but she finally gave
in.

They rode gaily out into the lane. Calico was too tired to make any
protest to his double burden. Once in the lane, they waited in the
shade. But the boys did not come. They waited until Jane was sure it
must be one o'clock and their appetites suggested two at the very
earliest. Calico waited patiently enough, but Caliph was uneasy over the
flies. Finally, they decided to give the boys up and go back and have
their picnic alone.

"We might take one gallop down the line to the creek to make sure
they're not in the meadow," Katy suggested.

"I bet they finished the weeds sooner than they expected and went
fishing." Chicken Little strained her eyes in the direction of the
meadow.

They started the horses off at a smart pace, then faster and faster,
till they broke into a swift gallop.

"Isn't it glorious?" Chicken Little called back. She was several lengths
ahead.

She did not hear Katy's response. A jack rabbit, frightened by the
approaching horses, broke cover from some wild blackberry bushes that
grew over the stone wall, and dashed across the road directly in front
of Caliph. The spirited beast shied violently, then leaped forward,
throwing Chicken Little neatly off into the exact middle of the dusty
lane. Her pride was more hurt than she was. She tried to stop him by
calling "Whoa" lustily. But Caliph seemed to have a pressing engagement
elsewhere. He quickly disappeared around a bend in the lane.

The girls looked at each other in dismay.

Chicken Little got hastily to her feet. There was no time to nurse
bruises. She must catch Caliph somehow.

"Golly, he's got that beautiful Mexican saddle on and he may take a
notion to roll. I knew I hadn't any business to take it, but I wanted to
ride him just as Ernest does."

Katy and Gertie noticed the "Golly," but there seemed to be more
important business on hand.

"Do you suppose you could take Calico and catch him?" asked Katy
anxiously.

"I don't know, but I guess I'll have to try."

Katy and Gertie climbed down and Chicken Little swung herself up.

"Maybe one of you'd better come, too, to hold Calico and ride him home
if I catch Caliph."

"I'll come, and Gertie had better run and change her clothes and go back
to the orchard to give the boys their lunch, if they c