Part 16 (2/2)
”And you're not afraid?” asked Mortimer.
For answer the girl slipped quietly into the stall, and going up beside the Chestnut, who was standing sulkily with his head in the corner of his box, took him by the ear and turned him gently around.
”He's just a quiet-mannered chap, that's all,” she said. ”He's a big, lazy, contented old boy,” and she laid her cheek against his fawn-colored nozzle. ”You see,” she explained, ”he's got more brains than any of the other horses, and when he's abused he knows it.”
”But he's grateful when he's kindly treated,” commented Mortimer.
”Yes; that's why I like horses better than men.”
”Oh!” the exclamation slipped from Mortimer's lips.
”Most men, I mean,” she explained. ”Of course, father, and Alan, and--”
she hesitated; ”you see,” she went on to explain, ”the number of my men friends is limited; but except these, and Mike, and Mr. Dixon, I like the horses best.”
”I almost believe you're right, Miss Porter,” concurred Mortimer; ”I've known men myself that I fancy were much worse than even Diablo.”
”Mike thinks Lauzanne is a bad horse,” the girl said, changing the subject, ”but he'll win a big race this coming season. You just keep your eye on Lauzanne. Here's your carrot, old chap,” she said, stroking the horse's neck, ”and we must go if we're to have that drive. Will you hitch the gray to the buggy for us, Mike?” she asked of Gaynor, as they came out of the stable, ”we'll wait here.”
As Mike started off there came to their ears a sound of turmoil from Diablo's box; impatient kicks against the boards from the horse, and smothered imprecations from the boy.
”Hear that fiend!” the girl exclaimed, and there was wrath in her voice.
”He does seem a bad horse,” concurred Mortimer.
”I didn't mean Diablo; it's the boy. It's all his evil doing. Oh, I've only one glove,” she exclaimed. ”I know where it is, though; that mischievous rascal, Lauzanne, nibbled it from the front of my jacket; I saw him do it, but forgot to pick it up.”
”Allow me, Miss Porter; I'll get it for you.”
”No; please don't!” with emphasis. As he started back, she laid a detaining hand on his arm. ”I'd much prefer to go myself; Lauzanne distrusts strangers and might make trouble.”
As the girl entered the stable, Mortimer sauntered on in the direction Mike had gone.
Allis opened the door of Lauzanne's stall, pa.s.sed in, and searched in the straw for the lost glove.
X
The noise of strife in Diablo's box had increased. There came the sound of blows on the horse's ribs; a muttered oath, and suddenly a scream of terror from the boy, drowned in an instant by the ferocious battlecry of the enraged stallion. Mortimer, thirty yards away, heard it, and felt his heart stand still; he had never heard anything so demoniac in his life. He turned in such haste that his foot slipped on the frozen earth, and he fell heavily.
At the first sound of blows Allis had started angrily toward Diablo's box. She was at the door when Shandy's cry of terror rang out. For an instant the girl hesitated; what she saw was enough to make a strong man quail. The black stallion was loose; with crunching jaws he had fastened on the arm of Shandy, in the corner of the stall, and was trying to pull the boy down that he might trample him to death. But for a second she faltered; if ever quick action were needed, it was now.
”Back--back, Diablo! back!” she cried, as pus.h.i.+ng past the black demon she brought her hunting-crop down with full force between his ears.
Whether it was the sound of his mistress's voice, or the staggering blow, Diablo dropped the boy like a crushed rat, and, half rearing, looked viciously at the brave girl.
”Quick! through the hay window!” commanded Allis, standing between Shandy and the horse, and drawing the whip back over her left shoulder, ready to give it to Diablo full in the throat should he charge again.
Cowed, the boy clambered through the opening. Enraged at the sight of his a.s.sailant's escape, the horse gave another scream of defiance and sought with striking forefeet and spread jaws to pull down this new enemy. Not until then had Allis thought of calling for help; her one idea had been for the boy's safety.
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