pag144iloHE STOOD AS STILL AS A STATUE
pag144ilo
HE STOOD AS STILL AS A STATUE
"Well, if you had been here to-day you'd have found out different. You don't know that horse," Little Crotchet insisted.
"He is certainly as vicious a creature as I ever saw," remarked the Teacher, who had been an amazed witness of the horse's performances.
"I'll show you," Aaron declared.
"Oh, no!" protested Little Crotchet. "Don't try any tricks on that horse. He's too mean and cruel. If you can get him in his stable, and fasten him in, I'll be glad. But don't go near him; he'll bite your head off."
Aaron laughed and then he seemed to be considering something. "I wish"—He paused and looked at Little Crotchet.
"You wish what?" asked the lad.
"I wish you might go with me. But it is dark. The moon is a day moon. I could tote you to the fence."
"And then what?" asked Little Crotchet.
"You could see a tame horse—the grandson of Abdallah."
"I'll go to the fence if you'll carry me," saidLittle Crotchet. "The air is not cold—no wind is blowing."
"Shall I go too?" asked Mr. Hudspeth.
"I'd be glad," said Aaron.
So, although the night was not cold, Aaron took a shawl from the bed and wrapped it about Little Crotchet, lifted the lad in his arms, and went softly down the stairway, Mr. Hudspeth following. The night was not so dark after all. Once away from the light, various familiar objects began to materialize. The oaks ceased to be huge shadows. There was a thin, milk-white haze in the sky that seemed to shed a reflection of light on the earth below.
A negro passed along the beaten way leading to the cabins, whistling a tune. It was Randall. He heard the others and paused.
"It's your turn to tote," said Aaron.
"Who?" exclaimed Randall.
"The Little Master," replied Aaron.
Randall laughed. Who talked of turns where the Little Master was concerned? When it came to carrying that kind of burden, Randall was the man to do it, and it was "Don't le' me hurt you, honey. Ef I squeeze too tight, des say de word;"and then, "Whar we gwine, honey? A'on gwine in dar en put dat ar hoss up? Well, 'fo' he go in dar less all shake han's wid 'im, kaze when we nex' lay eyes on 'im he won't hear us, not ef we stoop down and holler good-by in his year."
But following Aaron, they went toward the lot where the Black Stallion had shown his savage temper during the day.