Then he'll remember
not to open gates again, whether he thinks he is helping horses or
not."
And, though Trouble cried very hard, he was kept in the house. For,
as his mother had said, he must have something to make him remember
not to do such a thing again.
Meanwhile Uncle Frank and the cowboys were busy rounding up the
runaway ponies. The little horses, tired of being cooped up in the
corral, raced about, kicking up their heels and glad to be out on the
prairie again. But the cowboys knew how to handle them.
Around and around the drove of half-wild ponies rode the yelling and
shouting men, firing off many blank cartridges to scare the little
animals back into the corral.
Some of the ponies, frightened by the noise, did turn back. They ran
up to the corral gate, which was still open, and sniffed at the
fence. They may have said to themselves:
"We don't like it, being shut up in there, but maybe well have to go
back in, for we don't like being shouted at, and we don't like the
bang-bang noises like thunder."
But, even when some of the ponies had run back as far as the corral
gate they did not go in. Once again they turned around and would have
galloped across the prairie again. But Uncle Frank shouted:
"Get after them, boys! Drive those few in and the rest will follow
after like sheep! Get after them!"
So the cowboys rode up on their own swift ponies, that seemed to be
having a good time, and then the other ponies nearest the corral gate
were turned in through it.
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