e barn-loft, where
they selected the wood best suited to their purpose, and carried it
down to the yard, where Leo had dragged out the pony wagon.

"Here," said he, "you may stow the boards into this; and I'll lend you
Winkie to draw them home, if you'll promise to let Jim and me see you
build the boat."

Jack's brother Jim was a year older than Leo; but the two chummed
together, and were accustomed to stand up for each other, and thus hold
their own against the big boys, who were sometimes rather too much
inclined to adopt a patronizing tone toward them.

Jack and Rob now exchanged significant glances, which said plainly that
they would prefer the loan of the pony without any conditions. It
would be annoying to have the little fellows "tagging after them." But
there was no help for it. The pony belonged to Leo, and they could not
take it without his permission.

"Oh--ahem--I suppose so! Hey, Rob?" said Jack, shutting one eye
expressively.

"Well--yes," agreed Rob, appreciating the situation.

They went round to the front of Winkie's stall. Immediately a shaggy
head protruded through the window-like opening, a pair of bright eyes
passed over the other visitors and rested upon Leo, with a look which
might well be interpreted as one of affection; and a rough nose rubbed
up against the boy's arm, this being Winkle's way of expressing delight
at seeing his master. He rather resented any attempt at petting from
Jack or Rob, however; which led them to tease him, much as they would
play with a dog,--for he was only a little Shetland pony, hardly larger
than a good-sized Newfoundland.

"Kittelywink!" exclaimed Rob, giving him his full name, which had been
shortened for the sake of euphony. "What in the world did you call him
that for?"

"Well, I can't exactly say," replied Leo; "but somehow it's a name
that's all jumbled up and confused like, and, that is just about how
you feel when he gets playing his pranks. Presto, change! you know.
Now you're here, and now you don't know where you are, but most likely
it is in the middle of a dusty or muddy road. Oh, you don't mind the
fall, 'cause he has an accommodating way of letting you down easy; but
it hurts your feelings awful, especially if there's anybody round. You
don't seem as big as you were a few moments before. He doesn't act
that way with me now, because I try to be always kind and gentle with
him. But you just attempt to really plague him, and see who