Page:The romance of Runnibede (IA romanceofrunnibe00rudd).pdf/26

20 THE ROMANCE OF RUNNIBEDE

like brumbies leaving a yard when the raile are thrown down.

‘Father said we were to go and meet them,” I shouted at her, then off we went te the stable as fast as our legs could take us.

At the stable, their heads hanging dreamily over the stall-rail, were our two ponies, Whitewings and Wallaroo, bridled and saddted and girthed to the last hole. They had been saddled since breakfast, and at intervals during the day when we had asked the governess if we could ‘‘please go out,'’ it was to stuff bush hay and more bush hay into those ponies, till sickening of it they turned from it and went to sleep. But, when we rushed under the rail, panting, and started scrambling into the saddles without giv- ing any warning, those, ponies woke up with a fright. What they thought for the moment was attacking them godness only knows; anyway, Wal- laroo, with a loud snort. flew round, and with her hindquarters knocked Ted under the rail, while Whitewings stood up on her hind legs and fell back wallop against the wall of the stable. Neither of us was prepared for a reception of that kind from ponies we had been feeding and foudling and gallop- ing about for a year and more. ‘Tang y’! Don’t y’ know who T am?’ Ted gasped--and, ‘‘you little brute, fll pay y’ out when I get on y’!’’ But the ponies soon took in the situation, aud became apolo- getic and tried to rub their bridtes off against our shoulders. Then into the saddles we climbed with fresh haste—but in the excitement, forgot to throw down the stall-rail before mounting, and there we