Part 23 (1/2)
CHAPTER XXII
RODNEY'S SACRIFICE AND HIS MOTHER'S
Onethe dusty road He did not carry his head erect as usual but see over so lad, alrown, and in experience already ainto a pasture and gave three shrill whistles Over the top of a ridge two pointed ears appeared, poised for an instant, and then their owner galloped into view
”What a beauty you are, Nat,” said the boy, as if talking to hi out his hand to stroke the silky nose that was thrust over the fence
The two standing together for as the eye shall adure was erect, his wavy hair hanging gracefully to his broad shoulders
His face, while not handsome, was clear cut, resolute and showed lines of character not usually graven in the face of one as young His dark gray eyes always looked at one steadily Now they were darker than usual and had in them the shadow of trouble
”Nat, hoould you like to change masters?”
The colt nuzzled the boy's face and then his pockets, in one of which he found the nubbin of corn he sought
”You rascal, all you care about having is a good coht we'd go to the war together We would have so for, a free country, where a man wouldn't need to have dukes for uncles in order to be of some consequence in the world We would show 'em, you and I, that horses and boys raised in this country are as good as the best; but that can't be You are too good a horse to drag the plow on this poor little farreat land for a master, while I will stay away from the war and both of us may save our precious skins and perhaps be British subjects in the end”
Nat's purplish eyes seemed full of comprehension, as he mumbled the lad's hand with his lips
”Horses sees than they really do, and know s than they seem to; how's that for horse sense, Nathaniel Bacon Allison?”
Nat blinked, but shed no tears Rodney blinked and his eyes et
The boy opened the gate and the colt followed him to the stable, where he was saddled and ridden to Monticello
As Rodney left the er of Mr Jefferson's estate he said: ”I only ask that you say to Mr Jefferson, I sell the colt with the understanding that I et the money”
”I'll do it, an' you won't need it in writin' so long as Mr Jefferson lives”
What a long, dusty, gloomy road was that over which the boy walked back to his home!
”What has become of Nat?” his mother asked, a few days later ”I haven't seen him lately”
”He was too valuable a horse for me to own and I sold hi him back,” and Rodney turned away, afraid to trust himself to say hbours told the boy he would surely ; whereas hishim with sad eyes, becaht the old coloured wo with anxious face at her it well Dat's no ht by Marse Rodney, ah reckon”
Mrs Allison looked up into the kindly old face of the coloured woman, and a wan smile was on her lips as she replied, ”Maet well” Fro away, Rodney had little diversion
His chief pastiet practice with the rifle The old Indian had chosen wisely when he purchased the rifle, and the boy became very proficient in marksmanshi+p One day when he had made a fine shot he turned and found hishim
”I hadn't an idea you were such a fine shot, Rodney,” said hisSquaw hasn't an equal in the whole county of Albeht she be?” asked Mam
”She was once the rifle of a noted chief of the Wyandottes, and when she speaks a deadly silence follows,” replied the boy, laughing