Free Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Page A

faster.
When we came to the bridge John pulled me up a little and patted my
neck. "Well done, Beauty! good old fellow," he said. He would have
let me go slower, but my spirit was up, and I was off again as fast
as before. The air was frosty, the moon was bright; it was very
pleasant. We came through a village, then through a dark wood, then
uphill, then downhill, till after eight miles' run we came to the
town, through the streets and into the market-place. It was all
quite still except the clatter of my feet on the stones—everybody
was asleep. The church clock struck three as we drew up at Dr.
White's door. John rang the bell twice, and then knocked at the
door like thunder. A window was thrown up, and Dr. White, in his
nightcap, put his head out and said, "What do you want?"
    "Mrs. Gordon is very ill, sir; master wants you to go at once;
he thinks she will die if you cannot get there. Here is a
note."
    "Wait," he said, "I will come."
    He shut the window, and was soon at the door.
    "The worst of it is," he said, "that my horse has been out all
day and is quite done up; my son has just been sent for, and he has
taken the other. What is to be done? Can I have your horse?"
    "He has come at a gallop nearly all the way, sir, and I was to
give him a rest here; but I think my master would not be against
it, if you think fit, sir."
    "All right," he said; "I will soon be ready."
    John stood by me and stroked my neck; I was very hot. The doctor
came out with his riding-whip.
    "You need not take that, sir," said John; "Black Beauty will go
till he drops. Take care of him, sir, if you can; I should not like
any harm to come to him."
    "No, no, John," said the doctor, "I hope not," and in a minute
we had left John far behind.
    I will not tell about our way back. The doctor was a heavier man
than John, and not so good a rider; however, I did my very best.
The man at the toll-gate had it open. When we came to the hill the
doctor drew me up. "Now, my good fellow," he said, "take some
breath." I was glad he did, for I was nearly spent, but that
breathing helped me on, and soon we were in the park. Joe was at
the lodge gate; my master was at the hall door, for he had heard us
coming. He spoke not a word; the doctor went into the house with
him, and Joe led me to the stable. I was glad to get home; my legs
shook under me, and I could only stand and pant. I had not a dry
hair on my body, the water ran down my legs, and I steamed all
over, Joe used to say, like a pot on the fire. Poor Joe! he was
young and small, and as yet he knew very little, and his father,
who would have helped him, had been sent to the next village; but I
am sure he did the very best he knew. He rubbed my legs and my
chest, but he did not put my warm cloth on me; he thought I was so
hot I should not like it. Then he gave me a pailful of water to
drink; it was cold and very good, and I drank it all; then he gave
me some hay and some corn, and thinking he had done right, he went
away. Soon I began to shake and tremble, and turned deadly cold; my
legs ached, my loins ached, and my chest ached, and I felt sore all
over. Oh! how I wished for my warm, thick cloth, as I stood and
trembled. I wished for John, but he had eight miles to walk, so I
lay down in my straw and tried to go to sleep. After a long while I
heard John at the door; I gave a low moan, for I was in great pain.
He was at my side in a moment, stooping down by me. I could not
tell him how I felt, but he seemed to know it all; he covered me up
with two or three warm cloths, and then ran to the house for some
hot water; he made me some warm gruel, which I drank, and then I
think I went to sleep.
    John seemed to be very much put out. I heard him say to himself
over and over again, "Stupid boy! stupid boy! no cloth put on, and
I dare say the water was cold, too; boys are no good;" but Joe was
a good boy, after all.
    I was now very ill; a strong inflammation had attacked my lungs,
and I could not draw my breath without