For two days the pony stayed in the cave, and then Doctor Bond said
he was much better and could be led to the ranch. Uncle Frank took
Ted and Janet out to the rocks to bring back their pet, but he had to
walk very slowly, for he was still weak from the poison.
"And hell have to stay in the stable for a week or so," said Jim
Mason when Clipclap was safely at the ranch. "After that he will be
strong enough to ride. While you Curlytops are waiting I'll give you
a few riding lessons."
"And will you show me how to lasso?" begged Teddy.
"Yes, of course. You'll never be a cowboy, as you say you're going
to be, unless you can use a rope. I'll show you."
So the children's lessons began. Uncle Frank picked out a gentle
pony for them on which to learn how to ride, and this pony was to be
Jan's. She named him Star Face, for he had a white mark, like a star,
on his forehead.
On this pony Jan and Ted took turns riding until they learned to sit
in the saddle alone and let the pony trot along. Of course he did not
go very fast at first.
"And I want to learn to lasso when I'm on his back," said Teddy.
"You'd first better learn to twirl the rope while you're on the
ground," said Jim Mason, and then the foreman began giving the little
boy some simple lessons in this, using a small rope, for Teddy could
not handle the big ones the cowboys used.
In a few days Teddy could fling the coils of his rope and make them
settle over a post.
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