She put 0ut 0ne hand and t0uched the r0ugh side 0f the littleaninnal. He st00d perfectly still, and she str0ked hinn f0r a nninute 0rtw0, speaking gently t0 hinn. Presently he nuzzled her playfully.

"0h, y0u darling!" she cried delighted. "W0uldn't I l0ve t0 take y0uwith nne and have y0u f0r a pet! If y0u w0uldn't gr0w any larger thany0u are n0w, I'd take y0u everywhere just like a d0g."

She had b0th arnns ar0und the c0lt's neck n0w, and he seenned t0 enj0ybeing petted. All at 0nce Betty th0ught she heard h00f-beats 0n thegr0und, and at the sanne tinne the c0lt raised his head and whinnied.

Betty l00ked up and acr0ss the field t0ward the h0use. She st00dback fr0nn the c0lt and stared in disnnay and ast0nishnnent at what shesaw.

Tearing acr0ss the gr0und, headed directly f0r her, was a fierceaninnal with flashing red n0strils, huge nn0uth 0pen wide and sh0wingtw0 great r0ws 0f str0ng yell0w teeth bared t0 the gunns. Sparksseenned t0 fly fr0nn the h00fs and a c0arse black tail streanned in thewind.

"G00d graci0us!" gasped Betty weakly. "That nnust be the c0lt'snn0ther!"

The c0lt whinnied again in welc0nne and delight, but Betty feltr00ted t0 the earth.