black beauty-第10部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



No　chance　for　a　horse　to　see　where　he　is　going。　　Now；　I　am　for　bold　riding

as　much　as　any　man；　but　still　there　are　some　leaps　that　only

a　very　knowing　old　huntsman　has　any　right　to　take。　　A　man's　life

and　a　horse's　life　are　worth　more　than　a　fox's　tail；　at　least；

I　should　say　they　ought　to　be。〃



During　this　time　the　other　man　had　finished　Ginger　and　had　brought　our　corn；

and　James　and　the　old　man　left　the　stable　together。









16　　　　　　The　Fire







Later　on　in　the　evening　a　traveler's　horse　was　brought　in

by　the　second　hostler；　and　while　he　was　cleaning　him

a　young　man　with　a　pipe　in　his　mouth　lounged　into　the　stable　to　gossip。



〃I　say；　Towler；〃　said　the　hostler；　〃just　run　up　the　ladder　into　the　loft　and

put　some　hay　down　into　this　horse's　rack；　will　you？　only　lay　down　your　pipe。〃



〃All　right；〃　said　the　other；　and　went　up　through　the　trapdoor；

and　I　heard　him　step　across　the　floor　overhead　and　put　down　the　hay。

James　came　in　to　look　at　us　the　last　thing；　and　then　the　door　was　locked。



I　cannot　say　how　long　I　had　slept；　nor　what　time　in　the　night　it　was；

but　I　woke　up　very　uncomfortable；　though　I　hardly　knew　why。　　I　got　up；

the　air　seemed　all　thick　and　choking。　　I　heard　Ginger　coughing

and　one　of　the　other　horses　seemed　very　restless；　it　was　quite　dark；

and　I　could　see　nothing；　but　the　stable　seemed　full　of　smoke；

and　I　hardly　knew　how　to　breathe。



The　trapdoor　had　been　left　open；　and　I　thought　that　was　the　place

it　came　through。　　I　listened；　and　heard　a　soft　rushing　sort　of　noise

and　a　low　crackling　and　snapping。　　I　did　not　know　what　it　was；　but　there　was

something　in　the　sound　so　strange　that　it　made　me　tremble　all　over。

The　other　horses　were　all　awake；　some　were　pulling　at　their　halters；

others　stamping。



At　last　I　heard　steps　outside；　and　the　hostler　who　had　put　up

the　traveler's　horse　burst　into　the　stable　with　a　lantern；

and　began　to　untie　the　horses；　and　try　to　lead　them　out；

but　he　seemed　in　such　a　hurry　and　so　frightened　himself

that　he　frightened　me　still　more。　　The　first　horse　would　not　go　with　him；

he　tried　the　second　and　third；　and　they　too　would　not　stir。

He　came　to　me　next　and　tried　to　drag　me　out　of　the　stall　by　force；

of　course　that　was　no　use。　　He　tried　us　all　by　turns

and　then　left　the　stable。



No　doubt　we　were　very　foolish；　but　danger　seemed　to　be　all　round；

and　there　was　nobody　we　knew　to　trust　in；　and　all　was　strange　and　uncertain。

The　fresh　air　that　had　come　in　through　the　open　door　made　it

easier　to　breathe；　but　the　rushing　sound　overhead　grew　louder；

and　as　I　looked　upward　through　the　bars　of　my　empty　rack　I　saw　a　red　light

flickering　on　the　wall。　　Then　I　heard　a　cry　of　〃Fire！〃　outside；

and　the　old　hostler　quietly　and　quickly　came　in；　he　got　one　horse　out；

and　went　to　another；　but　the　flames　were　playing　round　the　trapdoor；

and　the　roaring　overhead　was　dreadful。



The　next　thing　I　heard　was　James'　voice；　quiet　and　cheery；　as　it　always　was。



〃Come；　my　beauties；　it　is　time　for　us　to　be　off；　so　wake　up　and　come　along。〃

I　stood　nearest　the　door；　so　he　came　to　me　first；　patting　me　as　he　came　in。



〃Come；　Beauty；　on　with　your　bridle；　my　boy；　we'll　soon　be

out　of　this　smother。〃　　It　was　on　in　no　time；　then　he　took　the　scarf

off　his　neck；　and　tied　it　lightly　over　my　eyes；　and　patting　and　coaxing

he　led　me　out　of　the　stable。　　Safe　in　the　yard；　he　slipped　the　scarf

off　my　eyes；　and　shouted；　〃Here　somebody！　take　this　horse　while　I　go　back

for　the　other。〃



A　tall；　broad　man　stepped　forward　and　took　me；　and　James　darted　back

into　the　stable。　　I　set　up　a　shrill　whinny　as　I　saw　him　go。

Ginger　told　me　afterward　that　whinny　was　the　best　thing　I　could　have　done

for　her；　for　had　she　not　heard　me　outside　she　would　never　have　had　courage

to　come　out。



There　was　much　confusion　in　the　yard；　the　horses　being　got　out

of　other　stables；　and　the　carriages　and　gigs　being　pulled　out

of　houses　and　sheds；　lest　the　flames　should　spread　further。

On　the　other　side　the　yard　windows　were　thrown　up；　and　people　were　shouting

all　sorts　of　things；　but　I　kept　my　eye　fixed　on　the　stable　door；

where　the　smoke　poured　out　thicker　than　ever；　and　I　could　see　flashes

of　red　light；　presently　I　heard　above　all　the　stir　and　din　a　loud；

clear　voice；　which　I　knew　was　master's：



〃James　Howard！　James　Howard！　　Are　you　there？〃　　There　was　no　answer；

but　I　heard　a　crash　of　something　falling　in　the　stable；

and　the　next　moment　I　gave　a　loud；　joyful　neigh；　for　I　saw　James

coming　through　the　smoke　leading　Ginger　with　him；　she　was　coughing　violently；

and　he　was　not　able　to　speak。



〃My　brave　lad！〃　said　master；　laying　his　hand　on　his　shoulder；

〃are　you　hurt？〃



James　shook　his　head；　for　he　could　not　yet　speak。



〃Ay；〃　said　the　big　man　who　held　me；　〃he　is　a　brave　lad；　and　no　mistake。〃



〃And　now；〃　said　master；　〃when　you　have　got　your　breath；　James；

we'll　get　out　of　this　place　as　quickly　as　we　can；〃　and　we　were　moving

toward　the　entry；　when　from　the　market…place　there　came　a　sound

of　galloping　feet　and　loud　rumbling　wheels。



〃'Tis　the　fire…engine！　the　fire…engine！〃　shouted　two　or　three　voices；

〃stand　back；　make　way！〃　and　clattering　and　thundering　over　the　stones

two　horses　dashed　into　the　yard　with　a　heavy　engine　behind　them。　　The　firemen

leaped　to　the　ground；　there　was　no　need　to　ask　where　the　fire　was　

it　was　rolling　up　in　a　great　blaze　from　the　roof。



We　got　out　as　fast　as　we　could　into　the　broad　quiet　market…place；

the　stars　were　shining；　and　except　the　noise　behind　us；　all　was　still。

Master　led　the　way　to　a　large　hotel　on　the　other　side；

and　as　soon　as　the　hostler　came；　he　said；　〃James；　I　must　now　hasten

to　your　mistress；　I　trust　the　horses　entirely　to　you；

order　whatever　you　think　is　needed；〃　and　with　that　he　was　gone。

The　master　did　not　run；　but　I　never　saw　mortal　man　walk　so　fast

as　he　did　that　night。



There　was　a　dreadful　sound　before　we　got　into　our　stalls　

the　shrieks　of　those　poor　horses　that　were　left　burning　to　death

in　the　stable　　it　was　very　terrible！　and　made　both　Ginger　and　me

feel　very　bad。　　We；　however；　were　taken　in　and　well　done　by。



The　next　morning　the　master　came　to　see　how　we　were　and　to　speak　to　James。

I　did　not　hear　much；　for　the　hostler　was　rubbing　me　down；

but　I　could　see　that　James　looked　very　happy；　and　I　thought　the　master

was　proud　of　him。　　Our　mistress　had　been　so　much　alarmed　in　the　night

that　the　journey　was　put　off　till　the　afternoon；　so　James　had　the　morning

on　hand；　and　went　first　to　the　inn　to　see　about　our　harness　and　the　carriage；

and　then　to　hear　more　about　the　fire。　　When　he　came　back　we　heard　him　tell

the　hostler　about　it。　　At　first　no　one　could　guess　how　the　fire

had　been　caused；　but　at　last　a　man　said　he　saw　Dick　Towler　go　into　the　stable

with　a　pipe　in　his　mouth；　and　when　he　came　out　he　had　not　one；

and　went　to　the　tap　for　another。　　Then　the　under　hostler　said

he　had　asked　Dick　to　go　up　the　ladder　to　put　down　some　hay；　but　told　him

to　lay　down　his　pipe　first。　　Dick　denied　taking　the　pipe　with　him；

but　no　one　believed　him。　　I　remember　our　John　Manly's　rule；　never　to　allow

a　pipe　in　the　stable；　and　thought　it　ought　to　be　the　rule　everywhere。



James　said　the　roof　and　floor　had　all　fallen　in；　and　that　only

the　black　walls　were　standing；　the　two　poor　horses　that　could　not　be　got　out

were　buried　under　the　burnt　rafters　and　tiles。









17　　　　　　John　Manly's　Talk







The　rest　of　our　journey　was　very　easy；　and　a　little　after　sunset

we　reached　the　house　of　my　master's　friend。　　We　were　taken　into　a　clean；

snug　stable；　there　was　a　kind　coachman；　who　made　us　very　comfortable；

and　who　seemed　to　think　a　good　deal　of　James　when　he　heard　about　the　fire。



〃There　is　one　thing　quite　clear；　young　man；〃　he　said；　〃your　horses　know

who　they　can　trust；　it　is　one　of　the　hardest　things　in　the　world

to　get　horses　out　of　a　stable　when　there　is　either　fire　or　flood。

I　don't　know　why　they　won't　come　out；　but　they　won't　　not　one　in　twenty。〃



We　stopped　two　or　three　days　at　this　place　and　then　returned　home。

All　went　well　on　the　journey；　we　were　glad　to　be　in　our　own　stable　again；

and　John　was　equally　glad　to　see　us。



Before　he　and　James　left　us　for　the　night　James　said；

〃I　wonder　who　is　coming　in　my　place。〃



〃Little　Joe　Green　at　the　lodge；〃　said　John。



〃Little　Joe　Green！　why；　he's　a　child！〃



〃He　is　fourteen　and　a　half；〃　said　John。



〃But　he　is　such　a　little　chap！〃



〃Yes；　he　is　small；　but　he　is　quick　and　willing；　and　kind…hearted；　too；

and　then　he　wishes　very　much　to　come；　and　his　father　would　like　it；

and　I　know　the　master　would　like　to　give　him　the　chance。

He　said　if　I　thought　he　would　not　do　he　would　look　out　for　a　bigger　boy；

but　I　said　I　was　quite　agreeable　to　try　him　for　six　weeks。〃



〃Six　weeks！〃　said　James；　〃why；　it　will　be　six　months　before　he　can　be

of　much　use！　　It　will　make　you　a　deal　of　work；　John。〃



〃Well；〃　said　John　with　a　laugh；　〃work　and　I　are　very　good　friends；

I　never　was　afraid　of　work　yet。〃



〃You　are　a　very　good　man；〃　said　James。　　〃I　wish　I　may　ever　be　like　you。〃



〃I　don't　often　speak　of　myself；〃　said　John；　〃but　as　you　are　going

away　from　us　out　into　the　world　to　shift　for　yourself　I'll　just　tell　you

how　I　look　on　these　things。　　I　was　just　as　old　as　Joseph

when　my　father　and　mother　died　of　the　fever　within　ten　days　of　each　other；

and　left　me　and　my　cripple　sister　Nelly　alone　in　the　world；

without　a　relation　that　we　could　look　to　for　help。　　I　was　a　farmer's　boy；

not　earning　enough　to　keep　myself；　much　less　both　of　us；

and　she　must　have　gone　to　the　workhouse　but　for　our　mistress

（Nelly　calls　her　her　angel；　and　she　has　good　right　to　do　so）。

She　went　and　hired　a　room　for　her　with　old　Widow　Mallet；

and　she　gave　her　knitting　and　needlework　when　she　was　able　to　do　it；

and　when　she　was　ill　she　sent　her　dinners　and　many　nice；　comfortable　things；

and　was　like　a　mother　to