"Oh! what is that?" breathed the little girl.
She had not thought of any danger from wild animals before this time, for it was broad daylight. And what this thing could be----
Then she caught a glimpse of it! It was of a sunburned yellow color, and it slunk behind a bush and seemed to be crouching there, hiding, quite as much afraid of Rose as Rose was of it. She saw its dusty tail flattened out on the ground. But whether it was frightened or was preparing to charge out upon her, the little Bunker girl could not tell and was greatly terrified.
She was just as frightened, indeed, as all the people at Cowboy Jack's ranch house were when Pinky, the runaway pony, cantered into view with nobody on his back. Cowboy Jack and daddy were already mounted on ponies, and Russ had refused to remain at home. He wanted to aid in the search for Rose.
"I can show them just where we were when Rose turned back," he said to Mother Bunker. "And then Cowboy Jack ought to be able to follow Rose."
Then she, as well as the little folks, shouted aloud at the appearance of the cantering Pinky.
"He's thrown the girl off!" exclaimed the ranchman. "Or else she has tumbled off. And it was some time ago, too. Come on, Charlie Bunker! I'm going to get Black Bear and his Injuns to help us look for her."
"Oh, Mr. Scarbontiskil!" murmured Mrs. Bunker, "is there anything out there in the wilderness to hurt her--by day?"
"Not a thing, Ma'am--not a thing bigger or savager than a jackrabbit," declared Cowboy Jack.
"But I wonder where the pony left her?" queried Mr. Bunker.
"Ask him, Daddy--ask him," urged Laddie eagerly. "He's an awful intelligent pony."
Pinky had been halted before the group at the ranch house. Daddy Bunker said again:
"I wonder if he could show us where he left Rose?"
And when he spoke Pinky began to nod his head up and down and paw with one hoof. The children were delighted--even Russ.
"Oh! I believe he is trying to explain," Russ cried. "Ask him another question, Daddy."
Mr. Bunker laughed rather grimly. "Let Vi ask the pony questions; she can think of them faster than I can. Or let Laddie ask him a riddle. There is no time to experiment with ponies now."
He and Cowboy Jack started away from the ranch house, and Russ, for fear of being left behind, urged his pinto after them.