black beauty-第31部分

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and　my　own　exhaustion　were　too　much。　　I　was　struggling　to　keep　on；

goaded　by　constant　chucks　of　the　rein　and　use　of　the　whip；

when　in　a　single　moment　　I　cannot　tell　how　　my　feet　slipped

from　under　me；　and　I　fell　heavily　to　the　ground　on　my　side；

the　suddenness　and　the　force　with　which　I　fell　seemed　to　beat　all　the　breath

out　of　my　body。　　I　lay　perfectly　still；　indeed；　I　had　no　power　to　move；

and　I　thought　now　I　was　going　to　die。　　I　heard　a　sort　of　confusion　round　me；

loud；　angry　voices；　and　the　getting　down　of　the　luggage；　but　it　was　all

like　a　dream。　　I　thought　I　heard　that　sweet；　pitiful　voice　saying；

〃Oh！　that　poor　horse！　it　is　all　our　fault。〃　　Some　one　came　and　loosened

the　throat　strap　of　my　bridle；　and　undid　the　traces　which　kept　the　collar

so　tight　upon　me。　　Some　one　said；　〃He's　dead；　he'll　never　get　up　again。〃

Then　I　could　hear　a　policeman　giving　orders；　but　I　did　not　even　open　my　eyes；

I　could　only　draw　a　gasping　breath　now　and　then。　　Some　cold　water

was　thrown　over　my　head；　and　some　cordial　was　poured　into　my　mouth；

and　something　was　covered　over　me。　　I　cannot　tell　how　long　I　lay　there；

but　I　found　my　life　coming　back；　and　a　kind…voiced　man　was　patting　me

and　encouraging　me　to　rise。　　After　some　more　cordial　had　been　given　me；

and　after　one　or　two　attempts；　I　staggered　to　my　feet；

and　was　gently　led　to　some　stables　which　were　close　by。

Here　I　was　put　into　a　well…littered　stall；　and　some　warm　gruel

was　brought　to　me；　which　I　drank　thankfully。



In　the　evening　I　was　sufficiently　recovered　to　be　led　back

to　Skinner's　stables；　where　I　think　they　did　the　best　for　me　they　could。

In　the　morning　Skinner　came　with　a　farrier　to　look　at　me。

He　examined　me　very　closely　and　said：



〃This　is　a　case　of　overwork　more　than　disease；　and　if　you　could　give　him

a　run　off　for　six　months　he　would　be　able　to　work　again；

but　now　there　is　not　an　ounce　of　strength　left　in　him。〃



〃Then　he　must　just　go　to　the　dogs；〃　said　Skinner。　　〃I　have　no　meadows

to　nurse　sick　horses　in　　he　might　get　well　or　he　might　not；

that　sort　of　thing　don't　suit　my　business；　my　plan　is　to　work　'em

as　long　as　they'll　go；　and　then　sell　'em　for　what　they'll　fetch；

at　the　knacker's　or　elsewhere。〃



〃If　he　was　broken…winded；〃　said　the　farrier；　〃you　had　better　have　him

killed　out　of　hand；　but　he　is　not；　there　is　a　sale　of　horses　coming　off

in　about　ten　days；　if　you　rest　him　and　feed　him　up　he　may　pick　up；

and　you　may　get　more　than　his　skin　is　worth；　at　any　rate。〃



Upon　this　advice　Skinner；　rather　unwillingly；　I　think；　gave　orders

that　I　should　be　well　fed　and　cared　for；　and　the　stable　man；　happily　for　me；

carried　out　the　orders　with　a　much　better　will　than　his　master　had

in　giving　them。　　Ten　days　of　perfect　rest；　plenty　of　good　oats；

hay；　bran　mashes；　with　boiled　linseed　mixed　in　them；

did　more　to　get　up　my　condition　than　anything　else　could　have　done；

those　linseed　mashes　were　delicious；　and　I　began　to　think；　after　all；

it　might　be　better　to　live　than　go　to　the　dogs。　　When　the　twelfth　day

after　the　accident　came；　I　was　taken　to　the　sale；　a　few　miles　out　of　London。

I　felt　that　any　change　from　my　present　place　must　be　an　improvement；

so　I　held　up　my　head；　and　hoped　for　the　best。









48　　　　　　Farmer　Thoroughgood　and　His　Grandson　Willie







At　this　sale；　of　course　I　found　myself　in　company　with　the　old

broken…down　horses　　some　lame；　some　broken…winded；　some　old；

and　some　that　I　am　sure　it　would　have　been　merciful　to　shoot。



The　buyers　and　sellers；　too；　many　of　them；　looked　not　much　better　off

than　the　poor　beasts　they　were　bargaining　about。　　There　were　poor　old　men；

trying　to　get　a　horse　or　a　pony　for　a　few　pounds；　that　might　drag　about

some　little　wood　or　coal　cart。　　There　were　poor　men　trying　to　sell

a　worn…out　beast　for　two　or　three　pounds；　rather　than　have　the　greater　loss

of　killing　him。　　Some　of　them　looked　as　if　poverty　and　hard　times

had　hardened　them　all　over；　but　there　were　others　that　I　would　have

willingly　used　the　last　of　my　strength　in　serving；　poor　and　shabby；

but　kind　and　human；　with　voices　that　I　could　trust。

There　was　one　tottering　old　man　who　took　a　great　fancy　to　me；　and　I　to　him；

but　I　was　not　strong　enough　　it　was　an　anxious　time！

Coming　from　the　better　part　of　the　fair；　I　noticed　a　man

who　looked　like　a　gentleman　farmer；　with　a　young　boy　by　his　side；

he　had　a　broad　back　and　round　shoulders；　a　kind；　ruddy　face；

and　he　wore　a　broad…brimmed　hat。　　When　he　came　up　to　me　and　my　companions

he　stood　still　and　gave　a　pitiful　look　round　upon　us。　　I　saw　his　eye

rest　on　me；　I　had　still　a　good　mane　and　tail；　which　did　something

for　my　appearance。　　I　pricked　my　ears　and　looked　at　him。



〃There's　a　horse；　Willie；　that　has　known　better　days。〃



〃Poor　old　fellow！〃　said　the　boy；　〃do　you　think；　grandpapa；

he　was　ever　a　carriage　horse？〃



〃Oh；　yes！　my　boy；〃　said　the　farmer；　coming　closer；　〃he　might　have　been

anything　when　he　was　young；　look　at　his　nostrils　and　his　ears；

the　shape　of　his　neck　and　shoulder；　there's　a　deal　of　breeding

about　that　horse。〃　　He　put　out　his　hand　and　gave　me　a　kind　pat　on　the　neck。

I　put　out　my　nose　in　answer　to　his　kindness；　the　boy　stroked　my　face。



〃Poor　old　fellow！　see；　grandpapa；　how　well　he　understands　kindness。

Could　not　you　buy　him　and　make　him　young　again　as　you　did　with　Ladybird？〃



〃My　dear　boy；　I　can't　make　all　old　horses　young；　besides；

Ladybird　was　not　so　very　old；　as　she　was　run　down　and　badly　used。〃



〃Well；　grandpapa；　I　don't　believe　that　this　one　is　old；

look　at　his　mane　and　tail。　　I　wish　you　would　look　into　his　mouth；

and　then　you　could　tell；　though　he　is　so　very　thin；

his　eyes　are　not　sunk　like　some　old　horses'。〃



The　old　gentleman　laughed。　　〃Bless　the　boy！　he　is　as　horsey

as　his　old　grandfather。〃



〃But　do　look　at　his　mouth；　grandpapa；　and　ask　the　price；

I　am　sure　he　would　grow　young　in　our　meadows。〃



The　man　who　had　brought　me　for　sale　now　put　in　his　word。



〃The　young　gentleman's　a　real　knowing　one；　sir。　　Now　the　fact　is；

this　'ere　hoss　is　just　pulled　down　with　overwork　in　the　cabs；

he's　not　an　old　one；　and　I　heerd　as　how　the　vetenary　should　say；

that　a　six　months'　run　off　would　set　him　right　up；　being　as　how

his　wind　was　not　broken。　　I've　had　the　tending　of　him　these　ten　days　past；

and　a　gratefuller；　pleasanter　animal　I　never　met　with；　and　'twould　be　worth

a　gentleman's　while　to　give　a　five…pound　note　for　him；　and　let　him　have

a　chance。　　I'll　be　bound　he'd　be　worth　twenty　pounds　next　spring。〃



The　old　gentleman　laughed；　and　the　little　boy　looked　up　eagerly。



〃Oh；　grandpapa；　did　you　not　say　the　colt　sold　for　five　pounds　more

than　you　expected？　　You　would　not　be　poorer　if　you　did　buy　this　one。〃



The　farmer　slowly　felt　my　legs；　which　were　much　swelled　and　strained；

then　he　looked　at　my　mouth。　　〃Thirteen　or　fourteen；　I　should　say；

just　trot　him　out；　will　you？〃



I　arched　my　poor　thin　neck；　raised　my　tail　a　little；　and　threw　out　my　legs

as　well　as　I　could；　for　they　were　very　stiff。



〃What　is　the　lowest　you　will　take　for　him？〃　said　the　farmer　as　I　came　back。



〃Five　pounds；　sir；　that　was　the　lowest　price　my　master　set。〃



〃'Tis　a　speculation；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；　shaking　his　head；

but　at　the　same　time　slowly　drawing　out　his　purse；　〃quite　a　speculation！

Have　you　any　more　business　here？〃　he　said；　counting　the　sovereigns

into　his　hand。



〃No；　sir；　I　can　take　him　for　you　to　the　inn；　if　you　please。〃



〃Do　so；　I　am　now　going　there。〃



They　walked　forward；　and　I　was　led　behind。　　The　boy　could　hardly　control

his　delight；　and　the　old　gentleman　seemed　to　enjoy　his　pleasure。

I　had　a　good　feed　at　the　inn；　and　was　then　gently　ridden　home

by　a　servant　of　my　new　master's；　and　turned　into　a　large　meadow

with　a　shed　in　one　corner　of　it。



Mr。　Thoroughgood；　for　that　was　the　name　of　my　benefactor；

gave　orders　that　I　should　have　hay　and　oats　every　night　and　morning；

and　the　run　of　the　meadow　during　the　day；　and；　〃you；　Willie；〃　said　he；

〃must　take　the　oversight　of　him；　I　give　him　in　charge　to　you。〃



The　boy　was　proud　of　his　charge；　and　undertook　it　in　all　seriousness。

There　was　not　a　day　when　he　did　not　pay　me　a　visit；　sometimes　picking　me　out

from　among　the　other　horses；　and　giving　me　a　bit　of　carrot；

or　something　good；　or　sometimes　standing　by　me　while　I　ate　my　oats。

He　always　came　with　kind　words　and　caresses；　and　of　course　I　grew　very　fond

of　him。　　He　called　me　Old　Crony；　as　I　used　to　come　to　him　in　the　field

and　follow　him　about。　　Sometimes　he　brought　his　grandfather；

who　always　looked　closely　at　my　legs。



〃This　is　our　point；　Willie；〃　he　would　say；　〃but　he　is　improving　so　steadily

that　I　think　we　shall　see　a　change　for　the　better　in　the　spring。〃



The　perfect　rest；　the　good　food；　the　soft　turf；　and　gentle　exercise；

soon　began　to　tell　on　my　condition　and　my　spirits。　　I　had　a　good　constitution

from　my　mother；　and　I　was　never　strained　when　I　was　young；

so　that　I　had　a　better　chance　than　many　horses　who　have　been　worked

before　they　came　to　their　full　strength。　　During　the　winter

my　legs　improved　so　much　that　I　began　to　feel　quite　young　again。

The　spring　came　round；　and　one　day　in　March　Mr。　Thoroughgood　determined

that　he　would　try　me　in　the　phaeton。　　I　was　well　pleased；

and　he　and　Willie　drove　me　a　few　miles。　　My　legs　were　not　stiff　now；

and　I　did　the　work　with　perfect　ease。



〃He's　growing　young；　Willie；　we　must　give　him　a　little　gentle　work　now；

and　by　mid…summer　he　will　be　as　good　as　Ladybird。　　He　has　a　beautiful　mouth

and　good　paces；　they　can't　be　better。〃



〃Oh；　grandpapa；　how　glad　I　am　you　bought　him！〃



〃So　am　I；　my　boy；　but　he　has　to　thank　you　more　than　me；

we　must　now　be　looking　out　for　a　quiet；　genteel　place　for　him；

where　he　will　be　valued。〃









49　　　　　　My　Last　Home







One　day　during　this　summer　the　groom　cleaned　and　dressed　me

with　such　extraordinary　care　that　I　thought　some　new　chan