W wr tecn t a lît, e’ri stebl, n plest in boxz ajônñ ć uɖr, ẃr w wr rubd dǎn n féd. In abt haf an aur Jon n Mr. Yorc, hu wz t b ǎr ny coćmn, cem in t si s.

“Nǎ, Mr. Manli,” h sd, aftr cerf̣li lcñ at s bʈ, “I cn si no fōlt in ɖz horsz; bt w ol nǒ ɖt horsz hv ɖer pkliaṛtiz az wel az men, n ɖt smtmz ɖe nīd difṛnt trītmnt. I śd lîc t nǒ f ɖr z eniʈñ ptiklr in îɖr v ɖz ɖt y wd lîc t mnśn.”

“Wel,” sd Jon, “I d’nt b’liv ɖr z a betr per v horsz in ɖ cuntri, n rît grīvd I am t part wɖ ɖm, bt ɖe r nt alîc. Ɖ blac wn z ɖ most prfict tmpr I evr ń; I s’poz h hz nvr noun a hard wrd or a blo sins h wz fǒld, n ol hiz pleźr sīmz t b t d ẃt y wś; bt ɖ ćesnut, I fansi, mst hv hd bad trītmnt; w hŕd az mć fṛm ɖ dīlr. Ś cem t s snapiś n sspiśs, bt ẃn ś faund ẃt sort v ples ǎrz wz, it ol wnt of bî dgriz; fr ʈri yirz I hv nvr sìn ɖ smōlist sîn v tmpr, n f ś z wel trītd ɖr z nt a betr, mor wilñ animl ɖn ś z. Bt ś z naćṛli a mor iritbl consttyśn ɖn ɖ blac hors; flîz tīz hr mor; eniʈñ roñ in ɖ harnis frets hr mor; n f ś wr il-yzd or unferli trītd ś wd nt b unlîcli t gv tit fr tat. Y nǒ ɖt mni hî-métld horsz wl d so.”

“V cors,” sd Yorc, “I qt unḍstand; bt y nǒ it z nt īzi in steblz lîc ɖz t hv ol ɖ grūmz jst ẃt ɖe śd b. I d mî bst, n ɖr I mst līv it. I’l rmembr ẃt y hv sd abt ɖ mer.”

Ɖe wr gwñ ǎt v ɖ stebl, ẃn Jon stopt n sd, “I hd betr mnśn ɖt w hv nvr yzd ɖ ćecrein wɖ îɖr v ɖm; ɖ blac hors nvr hd wn on, n ɖ dīlr sd it wz ɖ gagbit ɖt spôld ɖ uɖr’z tmpr.”

“Wel,” sd Yorc, “f ɖe cm hir ɖe mst wer ɖ ćecrein. I prifŕ a lūs rein mslf, n hiz lordśp z olwz vri rīzṇbl abt horsz; bt mî ledi – ɖt’s anɖr ʈñ; ś wl hv stîl, n f hr carijhorsz r nt reind p tît ś wd’nt lc at ɖm. I olwz stand ǎt agnst ɖ gagbit, n śl d so, bt it mst b tît p ẃn mî ledi rîdz!”

“I am sori fr it, vri sori,” sd Jon; “bt I mst g nǎ, or I śl lūz ɖ tren.”

H cem rnd t ć v s t pat n spīc t s fr ɖ last tîm; hiz vôs sǎndd vri sad.

I hld mî fes clos t him; ɖt wz ol I cd d t se gdbî; n ɖen h wz gn, n I hv nvr sìn him sins.

Ɖ nxt de Lord W–– cem t lc at s; h sīmd plizd wɖ ǎr apiṛns.

“I hv gret confidns in ɖz horsz,” h sd, “fṛm ɖ caṛctr mî frend Mr. Gordn hz gvn m v ɖm. V cors ɖe r nt a mać in culr, bt mî îdīa z ɖt ɖe wl d vri wel fr ɖ carij ẃl w r in ɖ cuntri. Bfr w g t Lundn I mst trî t mać Báṛn; ɖ blac hors, I b’liv, z prfict fr rîdñ.”

Yorc ɖen tld him ẃt Jon hd sd abt s.

“Wel,” sd h, “y mst cīp an î t ɖ mer, n pt ɖ ćecrein īzi; I der se ɖe wl d vri wel wɖ a litl hyṃrñ at frst. I’l mnśn it t yr ledi.”

In ɖ afṭnun w wr harnist n pt in ɖ carij, n az ɖ steblcloc struc ʈri w wr léd rnd t ɖ frunt v ɖ hǎs. It wz ol vri grand, n ʈri or for tîmz az larj az ɖ old hǎs at Brtwic, bt nt haf so pleznt, f a hors me hv an opińn.

Tū ftṃn wr standñ redi, drest in drab liṿri, wɖ scarlit brìćz n ẃît stocñz. Prezntli w hŕd ɖ ruṣlñ sǎnd v silc az mî ledi cem dǎn ɖ flît v ston steps. Ś stept rnd t lc at s; ś wz a tōl, prǎd-lcñ wmn, n dd nt sīm plizd abt smʈñ, bt ś sd nʈñ, n got intu ɖ carij. Ɖs wz ɖ frst tîm v wẹrñ a ćecrein, n I mst se, ɖo it srtnli wz a ńsns nt t b ebl t gt mî hed dǎn nǎ n ɖen, it dd nt pl mî hed hayr ɖn I wz acustmd t cari it. I flt añśs abt Jinjr, bt ś sīmd t b qayt n cntnt.

Ɖ nxt de at ʈri o’cloc w wr agn at ɖ dor, n ɖ ftṃn az bfr; w hŕd ɖ silc dres rusl n ɖ ledi cem dǎn ɖ steps, n in an impirịs vôs ś sd, “Yorc, y mst pt ɖoz horsz’ hedz hayr; ɖe r nt fit t b sìn.”

Yorc got dǎn, n sd vri rspctf̣li, “I beg yr pardn, mî ledi, bt ɖz horsz hv nt bn reind p fr ʈri yirz, n mî lord sd it wd b sefr t brñ ɖm t it bî dgriz; bt f yr lediśp plizz I cn tec ɖm p a litl mor.”

“D so,” ś sd.

Yorc cem rnd t ǎr hedz n śortnd ɖ rein himslf – wn houl, I ʈnc; evri litl mcs a difṛns, b it fr betr or wrs, n ɖt de w hd a stīp hil t g p. Ɖen I bgan t unḍstand ẃt I hd hŕd v. V cors, I wontd t pt mî hed fwd n tec ɖ carij p wɖ a wil, az w hd bn yst t d; bt no, I hd t pl wɖ mî hed p nǎ, n ɖt tc ol ɖ spirit ǎt v m, n ɖ stren cem on mî bac n legz. Ẃn w cem in Jinjr sd, “Nǎ y si ẃt it z lîc; bt ɖs z nt bad, n f it dz nt gt mć wrs ɖn ɖs I śl se nʈñ abt it, fr w r vri wel trītd hir; bt f ɖe stren m p tît, ẃ, let ’m lc ǎt! I c’nt ber it, n I w’nt.”

De bî de, houl bî houl, ǎr bẹrñreinz wr śortnd, n instd v lcñ fwd wɖ pleźr t hvñ mî harnis pt on, az I yst t d, I bgan t dred it. Jinjr, tù, sīmd restlis, ɖo ś sd vri litl. At last I ʈt ɖ wrst wz ovr; fr sevṛl dez ɖr wz no mor śorṭnñ, n I dtrmind t mc ɖ bst v it n d mî dyti, ɖo it wz nǎ a constnt haṛs instd v a pleźr; bt ɖ wrst wz nt cm.

“Drîv t ɖ Dućis v B––’z,” ś sd, n ɖen aftr a pōz, “R y nvr gwñ t gt ɖoz horsz’ hedz p, Yorc? Rêz ɖm at wns n let s hv no mor v ɖs hyṃrñ n nonsns.”

Yorc cem t m frst, ẃl ɖ grūm std at Jinjr’z hed. H drù mî hed bac n fixt ɖ rein so tît ɖt it wz olmst intolṛbl; ɖen h wnt t Jinjr, hu wz impeśntli jrcñ hr hed p n dǎn agnst ɖ bit, az wz hr we nǎ. Ś hd a gd îdīa v ẃt wz cmñ, n ɖ momnt Yorc tc ɖ rein of ɖ terit in ordr t śortn it ś tc hr oṗtyṇti n rird p so sudnli ɖt Yorc hd hiz nǒz rufli hit n hiz hat noct of; ɖ grūm wz nirli ʈroun of hiz legz. At wns ɖe bʈ flù t hr hed; bt ś wz a mać fr ɖm, n wnt on plunjñ, rirñ, n cicñ in a most despṛt manr. At last ś cict rît ovr ɖ carij pol n fél dǎn, aftr gvñ m a svir blo on mî nir qortr. Ɖr z no nwñ ẃt frɖr misćif ś mt hv dn hd nt Yorc promtli sat himslf dǎn flat on hr hed t privnt hr struġlñ, at ɖ sem tîm cōlñ ǎt, “Unbucl ɖ blac hors! Run fr ɖ winć n unscru ɖ carij pol! Cut ɖ tres hir, smbdi, f y c’nt unhić it!” Wn v ɖ ftṃn ran fr ɖ winć, n anɖr bròt a nîf fṛm ɖ hǎs. Ɖ grūm sn set m fri fṛm Jinjr n ɖ carij, n léd m t mî box. H jst trnd m in az I wz n ran bac t Yorc. I wz mć xîtd bî ẃt hd hapnd, n f I hd evr bn yst t cic or rir I am śr I śd hv dn it ɖen; bt I nvr hd, n ɖr I std, angri, sor in mî leg, mî hed stl strend p t ɖ terit on ɖ sadl, n no pǎr t gt it dǎn. I wz vri mizṛbl n flt mć inclînd t cic ɖ frst prsn hu cem nir m.

Bfr loñ, hvr, Jinjr wz léd in bî tū grūmz, a gd dīl noct abt n bruzd. Yorc cem wɖ hr n gev hiz ordrz, n ɖen cem t lc at m. In a momnt h let dǎn mî hed.

“Cnfǎnd ɖz ćecreinz!” h sd t himslf; “I ʈt w śd hv sm misćif sn. Mastr wl b sorli vxt. Bt ɖr, f a wmn’z huzbnd c’nt rūl hr v cors a srvnt c’nt; so I woś mî handz v it, n f ś c’nt gt t ɖ dućis’ gardnparti I c’nt hlp it.”

Yorc dd nt se ɖs bfr ɖ men; h olwz spouc rspctf̣li ẃn ɖe wr bî. Nǎ h flt m ol ovr, n sn faund ɖ ples abv mî hóc ẃr I hd bn cict. It wz sweld n penfl; h ordrd it t b spunjd wɖ hot wōtr, n ɖen sm lośn wz pt on.

Lord W–– wz mć pt ǎt ẃn h lrnt ẃt hd hapnd; h blemd Yorc fr gvñ we t hiz mistris, t ẃć h rplaid ɖt in fyćr h wd mć prifŕ t rsiv hiz ordrz onli fṛm hiz lordśp; bt I ʈnc nʈñ cem v it, fr ʈñz wnt on ɖ sem az bfr. I ʈt Yorc mt hv std p betr fr hiz horsz, bt phps I am no juj.

Jinjr wz nvr pt intu ɖ carij agn, bt ẃn ś wz wel v hr bruzz wn v ɖ Lord W––’z yungr sunz sd h śd lîc t hv hr; h wz śr ś wd mc a gd huntr. Az fr m, I wz oblîjd stl t g in ɖ carij, n hd a freś partnr cōld Max; h hd olwz bn yst t ɖ tît rein. I asct him hǎ it wz h bòr it.

“Wel,” h sd, “I ber it bcz I mst; bt it z śorṭnñ mî lîf, n it wl śortn yrz tù f y hv t stic t it.”

“D y ʈnc,” I sd, “ɖt ǎr mastrz nǒ hǎ bad it z fr s?”

“I c’nt se,” h rplaid, “bt ɖ dīlrz n ɖ horsdoctrz nǒ it vri wel. I wz at a dīlr’z wns, hu wz trenñ m n anɖr hors t g az a per; h wz gtñ ǎr hedz p, az h sd, a litl hayr n a litl hayr evri de. A jntlmn hu wz ɖr asct him ẃ h dd so. ‘Bcz,’ sd h, ‘ppl w’nt bai ɖm unls w d. Ɖ Lundn ppl olwz wont ɖer horsz t cari ɖer hedz hî n t step hî. V cors it z vri bad fr ɖ horsz, bt ɖen it z gd fr tred. Ɖ horsz sn wer p, or gt dzizd, n ɖe cm fr anɖr per.’ Ɖt,” sd Max, “z ẃt h sd in mî hírñ, n y cn juj fr yrslf.”

Ẃt I sufrd wɖ ɖt rein fr for loñ munʈs in mî ledi’z carij it wd b hard t dscrîb; bt I am qt śr ɖt, hd it lastd mć longr, îɖr mî hlʈ or mî tmpr wd hv gvn we.

Bfr ɖt, I nvr ń ẃt it wz t fom at ɖ mǎʈ, bt nǎ ɖ ax́n v ɖ śarp bit on mî tuñ n jw, n ɖ cnstrend pziśn v mî hed n ʈrot, olwz cōzd m t froʈ at ɖ mǎʈ mor or les. Sm ppl ʈnc it vri fîn t si ɖs, n se, “Ẃt fîn spiṛtd crīćrz!” Bt it z jst az uņaćṛl fr horsz az fr men t fom at ɖ mǎʈ; it z a śr sîn v sm dscumf̣t, n śd b atndd t. Bsdz ɖs, ɖr wz a preśr on mî windpîp, ẃć ofn md mî briɖñ vri uncumf̣tbl; ẃn I rtrnd fṛm mî wrc mî nec n ćst wr strend n penfl, mî mǎʈ n tuñ tndr, n I flt wòrn n dprest.

In mî old hom I olwz ń ɖt Jon n mî mastr wr mî frendz; bt hir, olɖo in mni wez I wz wel trītd, I hd no frend. Yorc mt hv noun, n vri lîcli dd nǒ, hǎ ɖt rein haṛst m; bt I s’poz h tc it az a matr v cors ɖt it cd nt b hlpt; at eni ret, nʈñ wz dn t rliv m.

Ɖ Ledi Harịt, hu rmend at ɖ hōl, wz a gret inṿlid, n nvr wnt ǎt in ɖ carij, n ɖ Ledi Án prifŕd rîdñ on horsbac wɖ hr bruɖr or cuznz. Ś wz a prfict hors-wmn, n az ge n jntl az ś wz bytifl. Ś ćouz m fr hr hors, n nemd m “Blac Ōstr”. I injoid ɖz rîdz vri mć in ɖ clir cold er, smtmz wɖ Jinjr, smtmz wɖ Lizi. Ɖs Lizi wz a brît be mer, olmst ʈuṛbréd, n a gret feṿrit wɖ ɖ jntlṃn, on acǎnt v hr fîn ax́n n lîvli spirit; bt Jinjr, hu ń mor v hr ɖn I dd, tld m ś wz rɖr nrṿs.

Ɖr wz a jntlmn v ɖ nem v Blantîr steyñ at ɖ hōl; h olwz roud Lizi, n prezd hr so mć ɖt wn de Ledi Án ordrd ɖ sîdsadl t b pt on hr, n ɖ uɖr sadl on m. Ẃn w cem t ɖ dor ɖ jntlmn sīmd vri unīzi.

“Hǎ z ɖs?” h sd. “R y tîrd v yr gd Blac Ōstr?”

“Ǒ, no, nt at ol,” ś rplaid, “bt I am emịbl inuf t let y rîd him fr wns, n I wl trî yr ćarmñ Lizi. Y mst cnfes ɖt in sîz n apiṛns ś z far mor lîc a ledi’z hors ɖn mî ǒn feṿrit.”

“D let m advîz y nt t mǎnt hr,” h sd; “ś z a ćarmñ crīćr, bt ś z tù nrṿs fr a ledi. I aśur y, ś z nt prf̣cli sef; let m beg y t hv ɖ sadlz ćenjd.”

“Mî dir cuzn,” sd Ledi Án, lafñ, “pre d nt trubl yr gd cerfl hed abt m. I hv bn a hors-wmn evr sins I wz a bebi, n I hv foloud ɖ hǎndz a gret mni tîmz, ɖo I nǒ y d nt apruv v lediz huntñ; bt stl ɖt z ɖ fact, n I intnd t trî ɖs Lizi ɖt y jntlṃn r ol so fond v; so plīz hlp m t mǎnt, lîc a gd frend az y r.”

Ɖr wz no mor t b sd; h plest hr cerf̣li on ɖ sadl, lct t ɖ bit n crb, gev ɖ reinz jntli intu hr hand, n ɖen mǎntd m. Jst az w wr muvñ of a ftmn cem ǎt wɖ a slip v pepr n mesij fṛm ɖ Ledi Harịt. “Wd ɖe asc ɖs qsćn fr hr at Dr. Aśli’z, n brñ ɖ ansr?”

Ɖ vilij wz abt a mîl of, n ɖ doctr’z hǎs wz ɖ last in it. W wnt alñ gêli inuf tl w cem t hiz get. Ɖr wz a śort drîv p t ɖ hǎs btwn tōl eṿgrīnz.

Blantîr alîtd at ɖ get, n wz gwñ t opn it fr Ledi Án, bt ś sd, “I wl wêt fr y hir, n y cn hañ Ōstr’z rein on ɖ get.”

H lct at hr dǎtf̣li. “I wl nt b fîv minits,” h sd.

“Ǒ, d nt huri yrslf; Lizi n I śl nt run awe fṛm y.”

H huñ mî rein on wn v ɖ ayn spîcs, n wz sn hidn amñ ɖ triz. Lizi wz standñ qaytli bî ɖ sîd v ɖ rod a fy pesz of, wɖ hr bac t m. Mî yuñ mistris wz sitñ īẓli wɖ a lūs rein, humñ a litl soñ. I lisnd t mî rîdr’z ftsteps untl ɖe rīćt ɖ hǎs, n hŕd him noc at ɖ dor. Ɖr wz a medo on ɖ oṗzit sîd v ɖ rod, ɖ get v ẃć std opn; jst ɖen sm carthorsz n sevṛl yuñ colts cem trotñ ǎt in a vri dsordrli manr, ẃl a bô bhnd wz cracñ a gret ẃip. Ɖ colts wr wîld n frolicsm, n wn v ɖm boltd acrs ɖ rod n blundrd p agnst Lizi’z hîndlegz, n ẃɖr it wz ɖ stypid colt, or ɖ lǎd cracñ v ɖ ẃip, or bʈ tgɖr, I canot se, bt ś gev a vayḷnt cic, n daśt of intu a hedloñ gaḷp. It wz so sudn ɖt Ledi Án wz nirli unsītd, bt ś sn rcuvrd hrslf. I gev a lǎd, śril ne fr hlp; agn n agn I neid, pw̃ ɖ grǎnd impeśntli, n tosñ mî hed t gt ɖ rein lūs. I hd nt loñ t wêt. Blantîr cem runñ t ɖ get; h lct añśsli abt, n jst còt sît v ɖ flayñ figr, nǎ far awe on ɖ rod. In an instnt h sprañ t ɖ sadl. I nīdd no ẃip, no spr, fr I wz az īgr az mî rîdr; h sw it, n gvñ m a fri rein, n līnñ a litl fwd, w daśt aftr ɖm.

Fr abt a mîl n a haf ɖ rod ran stret, n ɖen bnt t ɖ rît, aftr ẃć it dvîdd intu tū rodz. Loñ bfr w cem t ɖ bnd ś wz ǎt v sît. Ẃć we hd ś trnd? A wmn wz standñ at hr gardnget, śêdñ hr îz wɖ hr hand, n lcñ īgrli p ɖ rod. Scersli drw̃ ɖ rein, Blantîr śǎtd, “Ẃć we?” “T ɖ rît!” craid ɖ wmn, pôntñ wɖ hr hand, n awe w wnt p ɖ rît-hand rod; ɖen fr a momnt w còt sît v hr; anɖr bnd n ś wz hidn agn. Sevṛl tîmz w còt glimsz, n ɖen lost ɖm. W scersli sīmd t gen grǎnd upn ɖm at ol. An old rod-mndr wz standñ nir a hīp v stonz, hiz śuvl dropt n hiz handz rezd. Az w cem nir h md a sîn t spīc. Blantîr drù ɖ rein a litl. “T ɖ comn, t ɖ comn, sr; ś hz trnd of ɖr.” I ń ɖs comn vri wel; it wz fr ɖ most part vri unīvn grǎnd, cuvrd wɖ heɖr n darc-grīn frz-bśz, wɖ hir n ɖr a scrubi old ʈorntrī; ɖr wr olso opn spesz v fîn śort gras, wɖ anthilz n moltrnz evriẃr; ɖ wrst ples I evr ń fr a hedloñ gaḷp.

W hd hardli trnd on ɖ comn, ẃn w còt sît agn v ɖ grīn habit flayñ on bfr s. Mî ledi’z hat wz gn, n hr loñ brǎn her wz strīmñ bhnd hr. Hr hed n bodi wr ʈroun bac, az f ś wr pŭlñ wɖ ol hr rmenñ streñʈ, n az f ɖt streñʈ wr nirli xōstd. It wz clir ɖt ɖ rufnis v ɖ grǎnd hd vri mć lesnd Lizi’z spīd, n ɖr sīmd a ćans ɖt w mt oṿtec hr.

Ẃl w wr on ɖ hîrod, Blantîr hd gvn m mî hed; bt nǎ, wɖ a lît hand n a practist î, h gîdd m ovr ɖ grǎnd in sć a mastrli manr ɖt mî pes wz scersli slacnd, n w wr dsîdidli genñ on ɖm.

Abt hafwe acrs ɖ hīʈ ɖr hd bn a wîd dîc rīsntli cut, n ɖ rʈ fṛm ɖ cutñ wz cast p rufli on ɖ uɖr sîd.

Śrli ɖs wd stop ɖm! Bt no; wɖ scersli a pōz Lizi tc ɖ līp, stumbld amñ ɖ ruf clodz n fél. Blantîr grond, “Nǎ, Ōstr, d yr bst!” H gev m a stedi rein. I gaɖrd mslf wel tgɖr n wɖ wn dtrmind līp clird bʈ dîc n banc.

Mośnlis amñ ɖ heɖr, wɖ hr fes t ɖ rʈ, le mî pur yuñ mistris. Blantîr nīld dǎn n cōld hr nem: ɖr wz no sǎnd. Jntli h trnd hr fes upwd: it wz gastli ẃît n ɖ îz wr clozd. “Ani, dir Ani, d spīc!” Bt ɖr wz no ansr. H unbutnd hr habit, lūsnd hr colr, flt hr handz n rist, ɖen startd p n lct wîldli rnd him fr hlp.

At no gret distns ɖr wr tū men cutñ trf, hu, siyñ Lizi runñ wîld wɖt a rîdr, hd left ɖer wrc t cać hr.

Blantîr’z hlu sn bròt ɖm t ɖ spot. Ɖ fōrmost man sīmd mć trubld at ɖ sît, n asct ẃt h cd d.

“Cn y rîd?”

“Wel, sr, I bīn’t mć v a horsmn, bt I’d risc mî nec fr ɖ Ledi Án; ś wz uncomn gd t mî wîf in ɖ wintr.”

“Ɖen mǎnt ɖs hors, mî frend – yr nec wl b qt sef – n rîd t ɖ doctr’z n asc him t cm instntli; ɖen on t ɖ hōl; tel ɖm ol ɖt y nǒ, n bid ɖm snd m ɖ carij, wɖ Ledi Án’z meid n hlp. I śl ste hir.”

“Ol rît, sr, I’l d mî bst, n I pre God ɖ dir yuñ ledi me opn hr îz sn.” Ɖen, siyñ ɖ uɖr man, h cōld ǎt, “Hir, Jo, run fr sm wōtr, n tel mî misis t cm az qc az ś cn t ɖ Ledi Án.”

H ɖen smhǎ scrambld intu ɖ sadl, n wɖ a “Ji p” n a clap on mî sîdz wɖ bʈ hiz legz, h startd on hiz jrni, mcñ a litl srcit t avôd ɖ dîc. H hd no ẃip, ẃć sīmd t trubl him; bt mî pes sn krd ɖt dificlti, n h faund ɖ bst ʈñ h cd d wz t stic t ɖ sadl n hold m in, ẃć h dd manf̣li. I śc him az litl az I cd hlp, bt wns or twîs on ɖ ruf grǎnd h cōld ǎt, “Stedi! Wǒ! Stedi!” On ɖ hîrod w wr ol rît; n at ɖ doctr’z n ɖ hōl h dd hiz eṛnd lîc a gd man n tru. Ɖe asct him in t tec a drop v smʈñ. “No, no,” h sd; “I’l b bac t ’m agn bî a śort cut ʈru ɖ fīldz, n b ɖr afōr ɖ carij.”

Ɖr wz a gret dīl v huri n xîtmnt aftr ɖ nyz bcem noun. I wz jst trnd intu mî box; ɖ sadl n braidl wr tecn of, n a cloʈ ʈroun ovr m.

Jinjr wz sadld n snt of in gret hest fr Lord Jorj, n I sn hŕd ɖ carij rol ǎt v ɖ yard.

It sīmd a loñ tîm bfr Jinjr cem bac, n bfr w wr left alon; n ɖen ś tld m ol ɖt ś hd sìn.

“I c’nt tel mć,” ś sd. “W wnt a gaḷp nirli ol ɖ we, n got ɖr jst az ɖ doctr roud p. Ɖr wz a wmn sitñ on ɖ grǎnd wɖ ɖ ledi’z hed in hr lap. Ɖ doctr pord smʈñ intu hr mǎʈ, bt ol ɖt I hŕd wz, ‘Ś z nt ded.’ Ɖen I wz léd of bî a man t a litl distns. Aftr a ẃl ś wz tecn t ɖ carij, n w cem hom tgɖr. I hŕd mî mastr se t a jntlmn hu stopt him t inqîr, ɖt h hopt no bonz wr brocn, bt ɖt ś hd nt spocn yt.”

Ẃn Lord Jorj tc Jinjr fr huntñ, Yorc śc hiz hed; h sd it òt t b a stedi hand t tren a hors fr ɖ frst sīzn, n nt a randm rîdr lîc Lord Jorj.

Jinjr yst t lîc it vri mć, bt smtmz ẃn ś cem bac I cd si ɖt ś hd bn vri mć strend, n nǎ n ɖen ś gev a śort cof. Ś hd tù mć spirit t cmplen, bt I cd nt hlp fīlñ añśs abt hr.

Tū dez aftr ɖ axidnt Blantîr peid m a vizit; h patd m n prezd m vri mć; h tld Lord Jorj ɖt h wz śr ɖ hors ń v Ani’z denjr az wel az h dd. “I cd nt hv hld him in f I wd,” sd h, “ś òt nvr t rîd eni uɖr hors.” I faund bî ɖer convseśn ɖt mî yuñ mistris wz nǎ ǎt v denjr, n wd sn b ebl t rîd agn. Ɖs wz gd nyz t m n I lct fwd t a hapi lîf.

It wz nǎ rli in Epril, n ɖ faṃli wz xpctd hom sm tîm in Me. Ɖ lît brawm wz t b freś dn p, n az Crnl Blantîr wz oblîjd t rtrn t hiz rejimnt it wz arenjd ɖt Smiʈ śd drîv him t ɖ tǎn in it, n rîd bac; fr ɖs prṗs h tc ɖ sadl wɖ him, n I wz ćozn fr ɖ jrni. At ɖ steśn ɖ crnl pt sm muni intu Smiʈ’s hand n bid him gdbî, seyñ, “Tec cer v yr yuñ mistris, Rūbn, n d’nt let Blac Ōstr b hact abt bî eni randm yuñ prig ɖt wonts t rîd him – cīp him fr ɖ ledi.”

W left ɖ carij at ɖ mcr’z, n Smiʈ roud m t ɖ Ẃît Layn, n ordrd ɖ hoslr t fīd m wel, n hv m redi fr him at for o’cloc. A nêl in wn v mî frunt śuz hd startd az I cem alñ, bt ɖ hoslr dd nt notis it tl jst abt for o’cloc.

Smiʈ dd nt cm intu ɖ yard tl fîv, n ɖen h sd h śd nt līv tl six, az h hd met wɖ sm old frendz. Ɖ man ɖen tld him v ɖ nêl, n asct f h śd hv ɖ śu lct t.

“No,” sd Smiʈ, “ɖt wl b ol rît tl w gt hom.”

H spouc in a vri lǎd, ofhand we, n I ʈt it vri unlîc him nt t si abt ɖ śu, az h wz jenṛli wundrf̣li ptiklr abt lūs nêlz in ǎr śuz. H dd nt cm at six nr sevn, nr et, n it wz nirli nîn o’cloc bfr h cōld fr m, n ɖen it wz wɖ a lǎd, ruf vôs. H sīmd in a vri bad tmpr, n abyzd ɖ hoslr, ɖo I cd nt tel ẃt fr.

Ɖ landlord std at ɖ dor n sd, “Hv a cer, Mr. Smiʈ!” bt h ansrd angṛli wɖ an oʈ; n olmst bfr h wz ǎt v ɖ tǎn h bgan t gaḷp, frīqntli gvñ m a śarp cut wɖ hiz ẃip, ɖo I wz gwñ at fl spīd. Ɖ mūn hd nt yt rizn, n it wz vri darc. Ɖ rodz wr stoni, hvñ bn rīsntli mndd; gwñ ovr ɖm at ɖs pes, mî śu bcem lūsr, n az w nird ɖ trnpîc get it cem of.

F Smiʈ hd bn in hiz rît snsz h wd hv bn snṣbl v smʈñ roñ in mî pes, bt h wz tù drunc t notis.

Bynd ɖ trnpîc wz a loñ pìs v rod, upn ẃć freś stonz hd jst bn leid – larj śarp stonz, ovr ẃć no hors cd b drivn qcli wɖt risc v denjr. Ovr ɖs rod, wɖ wn śu gn, I wz forst t gaḷp at mî utmost spīd, mî rîdr mnẃl cutñ intu m wɖ hiz ẃip, n wɖ wîld crsz rjñ m t g stl fastr. V cors mî śūlis ft sufrd dredf̣li; ɖ hūf wz brocn n split dǎn t ɖ vri qc, n ɖ insd wz teṛbli cut bî ɖ śarpnis v ɖ stonz.

Ɖs cd nt g on; no hors cd cīp hiz ftñ undr sć srcmstansz; ɖ pen wz tù gret. I stumbld, n fél wɖ vayḷns on bʈ mî niz. Smiʈ wz fluñ of bî mî fōl, n, owñ t ɖ spīd I wz gwñ at, h mst hv fōḷn wɖ gret fors. I sn rcuvrd mî fīt n limt t ɖ sîd v ɖ rod, ẃr it wz fri fṛm stonz. Ɖ mūn hd jst rizn abv ɖ hej, n bî its lît I cd si Smiʈ layñ a fy yardz bynd m. H dd nt rîz; h md wn slît ef̣t t d so, n ɖen ɖr wz a hevi gron. I cd hv grond, tù, fr I wz suf̣rñ intns pen bʈ fṛm mî ft n niz; bt horsz r yst t ber ɖer pen in sîḷns. I utrd no sǎnd, bt I std ɖr n lisnd. Wn mor hevi gron fṛm Smiʈ; bt ɖo h nǎ le in ɖ fl mūnlît I cd si no mośn. I cd d nʈñ fr him nr mslf, bt, ǒ! hǎ I lisnd fr ɖ sǎnd v hors, or ẃīlz, or ftsteps! Ɖ rod wz nt mć fṛqentd, n at ɖs tîm v ɖ nît w mt ste fr aurz bfr hlp cem t s. I std woćñ n liṣnñ. It wz a cām, swīt Epril nît; ɖr wr no sǎndz bt a fy lo nots v a nîtngel, n nʈñ muvd bt ɖ ẃît clǎdz nir ɖ mūn n a brǎn ǎl ɖt flitd ovr ɖ hej. It md m ʈnc v ɖ sumrnîts loñ ago, ẃn I yst t lî bsd mî muɖr in ɖ grīn pleznt medo at Farmr Gre’z.

Wn v ɖ men jumt ǎt, n stūpt dǎn ovr it. “It z Rūbn,” h sd, “n h dz nt str!”

Ɖ uɖr man foloud, n bnt ovr him. “H’z ded,” h sd; “fīl hǎ cold hiz handz r.”

Ɖe rezd him p, bt ɖr wz no lîf, n hiz her wz sǒct wɖ blud. Ɖe leid him dǎn agn, n cem n lct at m. Ɖe sn sw mî cut niz.

“Ẃ, ɖ hors hz bn dǎn n ʈroun him! Hu wd hv ʈt ɖ blac hors wd hv dn ɖt? Nbdi ʈt h cd fōl. Rūbn mst hv bn layñ hir fr aurz! Od, tù, ɖt ɖ hors hz nt muvd fṛm ɖ ples.”

Robt ɖen atmtd t līd m fwd. I md a step, bt olmst fél agn.

“Hlu! h’z bad in hiz ft az wel az hiz niz. Lc hir – hiz hūf z cut ol t pìsz; h mt wel cm dǎn, pur felo! I tel y ẃt, Ned, I’m afreid it hz’nt bn ol rît wɖ Rūbn. Jst ʈnc v hiz rîdñ a hors ovr ɖz stonz wɖt a śu! Ẃ, f h hd bn in hiz rît snsz h wd jst az sn hv traid t rîd him ovr ɖ mūn. I’m afreid it hz bn ɖ old ʈñ ovr agn. Pur Sūzn! ś lct ōf̣li pel ẃn ś cem t mî hǎs t asc f

h hd nt cm hom. Ś md b’liv ś wz nt a bit añśs, n tōct v a lot v ʈñz ɖt mt hv cept him. Bt fr ol ɖt ś begd m t g n mīt him. Bt ẃt mst w d? Ɖr’z ɖ hors t gt hom az wel az ɖ bodi, n ɖt wl b no īzi matr.”

Ɖen foloud a convseśn btwn ɖm, tl it wz agrìd ɖt Robt, az ɖ grūm, śd līd m, n ɖt Ned mst tec ɖ bodi. It wz a hard job t gt it intu ɖ dogcart, fr ɖr wz nwn t hold Jinjr; bt ś ń az wel az I dd ẃt wz gwñ on, n std az stil az a ston. I notist ɖt, bcz, f ś hd a fōlt, it wz ɖt ś wz impeśnt in standñ.

Ned startd of vri slǒli wɖ hiz sad lod, n Robt cem n lct at mî ft agn; ɖen h tc hiz hanc̣ćif n baund it closli rnd, n so h léd m hom. I śl nvr fget ɖt nît wōc; it wz mor ɖn ʈri mîlz. Robt léd m on vri slǒli, n I limt n hobld on az wel az I cd wɖ gret pen. I am śr h wz sori fr m, fr h ofn patd n incurijd m, tōcñ t m in a pleznt vôs.

At last I rīćt mî ǒn box, n hd sm corn; n aftr Robt hd rápt p mî niz in wet cloʈs, h taid p mî ft in a bran poltis, t drw ǎt ɖ hīt n clenz it bfr ɖ horsdoctr sw it in ɖ mornñ, n I manijd t gt mslf dǎn on ɖ strw, n slept in spît v ɖ pen.

Ɖ nxt de aftr ɖ farịr hd xamind mî wūndz, h sd h hopt ɖ jônt wz nt injrd; n f so, I śd nt b spôld fr wrc, bt I śd nvr lūz ɖ blemiś. I b’liv ɖe dd ɖ bst t mc a gd kr, bt it wz a loñ n penfl wn. Prǎd fleś, az ɖe cōld it, cem p in mî niz, n wz brnd ǎt wɖ cōstic; n ẃn at last it wz hīld, ɖe pt a blisṭrñ fluid ovr ɖ frunt v bʈ niz t brñ ol ɖ her of; ɖe hd sm rīzn fr ɖs, n I s’poz it wz ol rît.

Az Smiʈ’s deʈ hd bn so sudn, n nwn wz ɖr t si it, ɖr wz an inqest hld. Ɖ landlord n hoslr at ɖ Ẃît Layn, wɖ sevṛl uɖr ppl, gev evidns ɖt h wz intox̣cetd ẃn h startd fṛm ɖ ín. Ɖ cīpr v ɖ tolget sd h roud at a hard gaḷp ʈru ɖ get; n mî śu wz pict p amñ ɖ stonz, so ɖt ɖ ces wz qt plen t ɖm, n I wz clird v ol blem.

Evribdi pitid Sūzn. Ś wz nirli ǎt v hr mînd; ś cept seyñ ovr n ovr agn, “Ǒ! h wz so gd – so gd! It wz ol ɖt crst drinc; ẃ wl ɖe sel ɖt crst drinc? Ǒ Rūbn, Rūbn!” So ś wnt on tl aftr h wz berid; n ɖen, az ś hd no hom or rleśnz, ś, wɖ hr six litl ćildṛn, wz oblîjd wns mor t līv ɖ pleznt hom bî ɖ tōl octrīz, n g intu ɖt gret glūmi Yńn Hǎs.

Lord Jorj wz yuñ n wd tec no wornñ; h wz a hard rîdr, n wd hunt ẃnvr h cd gt ɖ ćans, qt cerlis v hiz hors. Sn aftr I left ɖ stebl ɖr wz a stīplćes, n h dtrmind t rîd. Ɖo ɖ grūm tld him ś wz a litl strend, n wz nt fit fr ɖ rês, h dd nt b’liv it, n on ɖ de v ɖ rês rjd Jinjr t cīp p wɖ ɖ fōrmost rîdrz. Wɖ hr hî spirit, ś strend hrslf t ɖ utmost; ś cem in wɖ ɖ frst ʈri horsz, bt hr wind wz tućt, bsdz ẃć h wz tù hevi fr hr, n hr bac wz strend. “N so,” ś sd, “hir w r, ruind in ɖ prîm v ǎr yʈ n streñʈ, y bî a druncd, n I bî a fūl; it z vri hard.” W bʈ flt in ǎrslvz ɖt w wr nt ẃt w hd bn. Hvr, ɖt dd nt spôl ɖ pleźr w hd in ć uɖr’z cumṗni; w dd nt gaḷp abt az w wns dd, bt w yst t fīd, n lî dǎn tgɖr, n stand fr aurz undr wn v ɖ śêdi lîmtrīz wɖ ǎr hedz clos t ć uɖr; n so w pást ǎr tîm tl ɖ faṃli rtrnd fṛm tǎn.

Wn de w sw ɖ rl cm intu ɖ medo, n Yorc wz wɖ him. Siyñ hu it wz, w std stil undr ǎr lîmtrī, n let ɖm cm p t s. Ɖe xamind s cerf̣li. Ɖ rl sīmd mć anoid.

“Ɖr z ʈri hundṛd pǎndz fluñ awe fr no rʈli ys,” sd h; “bt ẃt I cer most fr z ɖt ɖz horsz v mî old frend, hu ʈt ɖe wd fînd a gd hom wɖ m, r ruind. Ɖ mer śl hv a twelv-munʈ’s run, n w śl si ẃt ɖt wl d fr hr; bt ɖ blac wn, h mst b sold; ’tiz a gret piti, bt I cd nt hv niz lîc ɖz in mî steblz.”

“No, mî lord, v cors nt,” sd Yorc; “bt h mt gt a ples ẃr apiṛns z nt v mć consiqns, n stl b wel trītd. I nǒ a man in Baʈ, ɖ mastr v sm liṿristeblz, hu ofn wonts a gd hors at a lo figr; I nǒ h lcs wel aftr hiz horsz. Ɖ inqest clird ɖ hors’z caṛctr, n yr lordśp’s rec̣mndeśn, or mîn, wd b sfiśnt woṛnt fr him.”

“Y hd betr rait t him, Yorc. I śd b mor ptiklr abt ɖ ples ɖn ɖ muni h wd feć.”

Aftr ɖs ɖe left s.

“Ɖ’l sn tec y awe,” sd Jinjr, “n I śl lūz ɖ onli frend I hv, n most lîcli w śl nvr si ć uɖr agn. ’tiz a hard wrld!”

Abt a wīc aftr ɖs Robt cem intu ɖ fīld wɖ a hōltr, ẃć h slipt ovr mî hed, n léd m awe. Ɖr wz no līvtecñ v Jinjr; w neid t ć uɖr az I wz léd of, n ś trotd añśsli alñ bî ɖ hej, cōlñ t m az loñ az ś cd hír ɖ sǎnd v mî fīt.

Ʈru ɖ rec̣mndeśn v Yorc, I wz bòt bî ɖ mastr v ɖ liṿristeblz. I hd t g bî tren, ẃć wz ny t m, n rqîrd a gd dīl v curij ɖ frst tîm; bt az I faund ɖ pufñ, ruśñ, ẃiṣlñ, n, mor ɖn ol, ɖ tremḅlñ v ɖ horsbox in ẃć I std dd m no riyl harm, I sn tc it qaytli.

Ẃn I rīćt ɖ end v mî jrni I faund mslf in a tolṛbli cumf̣tbl stebl, n wel atndd t. Ɖz steblz wr nt so e’ri n pleznt az ɖoz I hd bn yst t. Ɖ stōlz wr leid on a slǒp instd v biyñ levl, n az mî hed wz cept taid t ɖ menjr, I wz oblîjd olwz t stand on ɖ slǒp, ẃć wz vri ftīgñ. Men d nt sīm t nǒ yt ɖt horsz cn d mor wrc f ɖe cn stand cumf̣tbli n cn trn abt; hvr, I wz wel féd n wel clīnd, n, on ɖ hol, I ʈnc ǎr mastr tc az mć cer v s az h cd. H cept a gd mni horsz n caṛjz v difṛnt cndz fr hîr. Smtmz hiz ǒn men drouv ɖm; at uɖrz, ɖ hors n śêz wr let t jntlṃn or lediz hu drouv ɖmslvz.

Frst, ɖr wr ɖ tît-rein drîvrz – men hu sīmd t ʈnc ɖt ol dpndd on holdñ ɖ reinz az hard az ɖe cd, nvr rlaxñ ɖ pl on ɖ hors’z mǎʈ, or gvñ him ɖ līst liḅti v muvmnt. Ɖe r olwz tōcñ abt “cīpñ ɖ hors wel in hand”, n “holdñ a hors p”, jst az f a hors wz nt md t hold himslf p.

Sm pur, brocn-dǎn horsz, huz mǎɖz hv bn md hard n insnsbl bî jst sć drîvrz az ɖz, me, phps, fînd sm s’port in it; bt fr a hors hu cn dpnd upn hiz ǒn legz, n hu hz a tndr mǎʈ n z īẓli gîdd, it z nt onli tormntñ, bt it z stypid.

Ɖen ɖr r ɖ lūs-rein drîvrz, hu let ɖ reinz lî īẓli on ǎr bacs, n ɖer ǒn hand rest leẓli on ɖer niz. V cors, sć jntlṃn hv no cntrol ovr a hors, f eniʈñ hapnz sudnli. F a hors śîz, or starts, or stumblz, ɖe r nẃr, n canot hlp ɖ hors or ɖmslvz tl ɖ misćif z dn. V cors, fr mslf I hd no objx́n t it, az I wz nt in ɖ habit îɖr v startñ or stumḅlñ, n hd onli bn yst t dpnd on mî drîvr fr gîdns n incurijmnt. Stl, wn lîcs t fīl ɖ rein a litl in gwñ dǎnhil, n lîcs t nǒ ɖt wn’z drîvr z nt gn t slīp.

Bsdz, a sluvnli we v drîvñ gts a hors intu bad n ofn lezi habits, n ẃn h ćenjz handz h hz t b ẃipt ǎt v ɖm wɖ mor or les pen n trubl. Sqîr Gordn olwz cept s t ǎr bst pesz n ǎr bst manrz. H sd ɖt spôlñ a hors n letñ him gt intu bad habits wz jst az cruwl az spôlñ a ćîld, n bʈ hd t sufr fr it afṭwd.

Bsdz, ɖz drîvrz r ofn cerlis oltgɖr, n wl atnd t eniʈñ els mor ɖn ɖer horsz. I wnt ǎt in ɖ feytn wn de wɖ wn v ɖm; h hd a ledi n tū ćildṛn bhnd. H flopt ɖ reinz abt az w startd, n v cors gev m sevṛl unmīnñ cuts wɖ ɖ ẃip, ɖo I wz ferli of. Ɖr hd bn a gd dīl v rod-mndñ gwñ on, n īvn ẃr ɖ stonz wr nt freśli leid dǎn ɖr wr a gret mni lūs wnz abt. Mî drîvr wz lafñ n jocñ wɖ ɖ ledi n ɖ ćildṛn, n tōcñ abt ɖ cuntri t ɖ rît n ɖ left; bt h nvr ʈt it wrʈ ẃl t cīp an î on hiz hors or t drîv on ɖ smūɖist parts v ɖ rod; n so it īẓli hapnd ɖt I got a ston in wn v mî fōrfīt.

Nǎ, f Mr. Gordn or Jon, or in fact eni gd drîvr, hd bn ɖr, h wd hv sìn ɖt smʈñ wz roñ bfr I hd gn ʈri pesz. Or īvn f it hd bn darc a practist hand wd hv flt bî ɖ rein ɖt ɖr wz smʈñ roñ in ɖ step, n ɖe wd hv got dǎn n pict ǎt ɖ ston. Bt ɖs man wnt on lafñ n tōcñ, ẃl at evri step ɖ ston bcem mor frmli wéjd btwn mî śu n ɖ frog v mî ft. Ɖ ston wz śarp on ɖ insd n rǎnd on ɖ ǎtsd, ẃć, az evriwn nz, z ɖ most denjṛs cnd ɖt a hors cn pic p, at ɖ sem tîm cutñ hiz ft n mcñ him most laybl t stumbl n fōl.

Ẃɖr ɖ man wz partli blînd or onli vri cerlis I c’nt se, bt h drouv m wɖ ɖt ston in mî ft fr a gd haf-mîl bfr h sw eniʈñ. Bî ɖt tîm I wz gwñ so lem wɖ ɖ pen ɖt at last h sw it, n cōld ǎt, “Wel, hir’z a g! Ẃ, ɖe hv snt s ǎt wɖ a lem hors! Ẃt a śem!”

H ɖen ćuct ɖ reinz n flipt abt wɖ ɖ ẃip, seyñ, “Nǎ, ɖen, it’s no ys pleyñ ɖ old soljr wɖ m; ɖr’z ɖ jrni t g, n it’s no ys trnñ lem n lezi.”

Jst at ɖs tîm a farmr cem rîdñ p on a brǎn cob. H liftd hiz hat n pld p.

“I beg yr pardn, sr,” h sd, “bt I ʈnc ɖr z smʈñ ɖ matr wɖ yr hors; h gz vri mć az f h hd a ston in hiz śu. F y wl alǎ m I wl lc at hiz fīt; ɖz lūs scatrd stonz r cnfǎndd denjṛs ʈñz fr ɖ horsz.”

“H’z a hîrd hors,” sd mî drîvr. “I d’nt nǒ ẃt’s ɖ matr wɖ him, bt it z a gret śem t snd ǎt a lem bīst lîc ɖs.”

Ɖ farmr dsmǎntd, n slipñ hiz rein ovr hiz arm at wns tc p mî nir ft.

“Bles m, ɖr’z a ston! Lem! I śd ʈnc so!”

At frst h traid t dsloj it wɖ hiz hand, bt az it wz nǎ vri tîtli wéjd h drù a stonpic ǎt v hiz pocit, n vri cerf̣li n wɖ sm trubl got it ǎt. Ɖen holdñ it p h sd, “Ɖr, ɖt’s ɖ ston yr hors hd pict p. It z a wundr h dd nt fōl dǎn n brec hiz niz intu ɖ bargin!”

“Wel, t b śr!” sd mî drîvr; “ɖt z a qir ʈñ! I nvr ń ɖt horsz pict p stonz bfr.”

“Dd’nt y?” sd ɖ farmr rɖr cntmć̣sli; “bt ɖe d, ɖo, n ɖ bst v ɖm wl d it, n c’nt hlp it smtmz on sć rodz az ɖz. N f y d’nt wont t lem yr hors y mst lc śarp n gt ɖm ǎt qcli. Ɖs ft z vri mć bruzd,” h sd, setñ it jntli dǎn n patñ m. “F I mt advîz, sr, y hd betr drîv him jntli fr a ẃl; ɖ ft z a gd dīl hrt, n ɖ lemnis wl nt g of d’recli.”

Ɖen mǎntñ hiz cob n rezñ hiz hat t ɖ ledi h trotd of. Ẃn h wz gn mî drîvr bgan t flop ɖ reinz abt n ẃip ɖ harnis, bî ẃć I unḍstd ɖt I wz t g on, ẃć v cors I dd, glad ɖt ɖ ston wz gn, bt stl in a gd dīl v pen.

Ɖs wz ɖ sort v xpirịns w jobhorsz ofn cem in fr.

Ɖz ppl nvr ʈnc v gtñ ǎt t wōc p a stīp hil. Ǒ, no, ɖe hv peid t rîd, n rîd ɖe wl! Ɖ hors? Ǒ, h’z yst t it! Ẃt wr horsz md fr, f nt t drag ppl uphil? Wōc! A gd joc indd! N so ɖ ẃip z plaid n ɖ rein z ćuct n ofn a ruf, scoldñ vôs crîz ǎt, “G alñ, y lezi bīst!” N ɖen anɖr slaś v ɖ ẃip, ẃn ol ɖ tîm w r dwñ ǎr vri bst t gt alñ, uncmplenñ n obījnt, ɖo ofn sorli haṛst n dǎn-hartd.

Ɖs stīm-enjin stîl v drîvñ werz s p fastr ɖn eni uɖr cnd. I wd far rɖr g twenti mîlz wɖ a gd cnsidṛt drîvr ɖn I wd g ten wɖ sm v ɖz; it wd tec les ǎt v m.

Anɖr ʈñ, ɖe scersli evr pt on ɖ breic, hvr stīp ɖ dǎnhil me b, n ɖus bad axidnts smtmz hapn; or f ɖe d pt it on, ɖe ofn fget t tec it of at ɖ botm v ɖ hil, n mor ɖn wns I hv hd t pl hafwe p ɖ nxt hil, wɖ wn v ɖ ẃīlz hld bî ɖ breic, bfr mî drîvr ćouz t ʈnc abt it; n ɖt z a teṛbl stren on a hors.

Ɖen ɖz cocniz, instd v startñ at an īzi pes, az a jntlmn wd d, jenṛli set of at fl spīd fṛm ɖ vri steblyard; n ẃn ɖe wont t stop, ɖe frst ẃip s, n ɖen pl p so sudnli ɖt w r nirli ʈroun on ǎr hōnćz, n ǎr mǎɖz jagd wɖ ɖ bit – ɖe cōl ɖt pŭlñ p wɖ a daś; n ẃn ɖe trn a cornr ɖe d it az śarpli az f ɖr wr no rît sîd or roñ sîd v ɖ rod.

I wel rmembr wn sprñ īvnñ I n Rori hd bn ǎt fr ɖ de. (Rori wz ɖ hors ɖt mostli wnt wɖ m ẃn a per wz ordrd, n a gd onist felo h wz.) W hd ǎr ǒn drîvr, n az h wz olwz cnsidṛt n jntl wɖ s, w hd a vri pleznt de. W wr cmñ hom at a gd smart pes, abt twîlît. Ǎr rod trnd śarp t ɖ left; bt az w wr clos t ɖ hej on ǎr ǒn sîd, n ɖr wz plenti v rūm t pas, ǎr drîvr dd nt pl s in. Az w nird ɖ cornr I hŕd a hors n tū ẃīlz cmñ rapidli dǎn ɖ hil twd s. Ɖ hej wz hî, n I cd si nʈñ, bt ɖ nxt momnt w wr upn ć uɖr. Haṗli fr m, I wz on ɖ sîd nxt ɖ hej. Rori wz on ɖ left sîd v ɖ pol, n hd nt īvn a śaft t pṛtct him. Ɖ man hu wz drîvñ wz mcñ stret fr ɖ cornr, n ẃn h cem in sît v s h hd no tîm t pl ovr t hiz ǒn sîd. Ɖ hol śoc cem upn Rori. Ɖ gig śaft ran rît intu ɖ ćst, mcñ him stagr bac wɖ a crî ɖt I śl nvr fget. Ɖ uɖr hors wz ʈroun upn hiz hōnćz n wn śaft brocn. It trnd ǎt ɖt it wz a hors fṛm ǎr ǒn steblz, wɖ ɖ hî-ẃīld gig ɖt ɖ yuñ men wr so fond v.

Ɖ drîvr wz wn v ɖoz randm, ignṛnt feloz, hu d’nt īvn nǒ ẃć z ɖer ǒn sîd v ɖ rod, or, f ɖe nǒ, d’nt cer. N ɖr wz pur Rori wɖ hiz fleś torn opn n blīdñ, n ɖ blud strīmñ dǎn. Ɖe sd f it hd bn a litl mor t wn sîd it wd hv cild him; n a gd ʈñ fr him, pur felo, f it hd.

Az it wz, it wz a loñ tîm bfr ɖ wūnd hīld, n ɖen h wz sold fr colcartñ; n ẃt ɖt z, p n dǎn ɖoz stīp hilz, onli horsz nǒ. Sm v ɖ sîts I sw ɖr, ẃr a hors hd t cm dǎnhil wɖ a heṿli lodd tū-ẃīl cart bhnd him, on ẃć no breic cd b plest, mc m sad īvn nǎ t ʈnc v.

Aftr Rori wz dsebld I ofn wnt in ɖ carij wɖ a mer nemd Pegi, hu std in ɖ nxt stōl t mîn. Ś wz a stroñ, wel-md animl, v a brît dun culr, bytifli dapld, n wɖ a darc-brǎn mein n teil. Ɖr wz no hî brīdñ abt hr, bt ś wz vri priti n rmarcbli swīt-tmprd n wilñ. Stl, ɖr wz an añśs lc abt hr î, bî ẃć I ń ɖt ś hd sm trubl. Ɖ frst tîm w wnt ǎt tgɖr I ʈt ś hd a vri od pes; ś sīmd t g partli a trot, partli a cantr, ʈri or for pesz, n ɖen a litl jump fwd.

It wz vri unpleznt fr eni hors hu pld wɖ hr, n md m qt fiɉti. Ẃn w got hom I asct hr ẃt md hr g in ɖt od, ōcẉd we.

“Ā,” ś sd in a trubld manr, “I nǒ mî pesz r vri bad, bt ẃt cn I d? It riyli z nt mî fōlt; it z jst bcz mî legz r so śort. I stand nirli az hî az y, bt yr legz r a gd ʈri inćz longr abv yr ni ɖn mîn, n v cors y cn tec a mć longr step n g mć fastr. Y si I dd nt mc mslf. I wś I cd hv dn so; I wd hv hd loñ legz ɖen. Ol mî trublz cm fṛm mî śort legz,” sd Pegi, in a dspondñ ton.

“Bt hǎ z it,” I sd, “ẃn y r so stroñ n gd-tmprd n wilñ?”

“Ẃ, y si,” sd ś, “men wl g so fast, n f wn c’nt cīp p t uɖr horsz it z nʈñ bt ẃip, ẃip, ẃip, ol ɖ tîm. N so I hv hd t cīp p az I cd, n hv got intu ɖs ugli śuf̣lñ pes. It wz nt olwz so; ẃn I livd wɖ mî frst mastr I olwz wnt a gd reğlr trot, bt ɖen h wz nt in sć a huri. H wz a yuñ clrjimn in ɖ cuntri, n a gd, cînd mastr h wz. H hd tū ćrćz a gd we apart, n a gret dīl v wrc, bt h nvr scoldd or ẃipt m fr nt gwñ fastr. H wz vri fond v m.

I onli wś I wz wɖ him nǎ; bt h hd t līv n g t a larj tǎn, n ɖen I wz sold t a farmr.

“Sm farmrz, y nǒ, r capitl mastrz; bt I ʈnc ɖs wn wz a lo sort v man. H cerd nʈñ abt gd horsz or gd drîvñ; h onli cerd fr gwñ fast. I wnt az fast az I cd, bt ɖt wd nt d, n h wz olwz ẃipñ; so I got intu ɖs we v mcñ a sprñ fwd t cīp p. On marcitnîts h yst t ste vri lêt at ɖ ín, n ɖen drîv hom at a gaḷp.

“Wn darc nît h wz gaḷpñ hom az yźl, ẃn ol v a sudn ɖ ẃīl cem agnst sm gret hevi ʈñ in ɖ rod, n trnd ɖ gig ovr in a minit. H wz ʈroun ǎt n hiz arm brocn, n sm v hiz ribz, I ʈnc. At eni ret, it wz ɖ end v mî livñ wɖ him, n I wz nt sori. Bt y si it wl b ɖ sem evriẃr fr m, f men mst g so fast. I wś mî legz wr longr!”

Pur Pegi! I wz vri sori fr hr, n I cd nt cumf̣t hr, fr I ń hǎ hard it wz upn slo-pêst horsz t b pt wɖ fast wnz; ol ɖ ẃipñ cmz t ɖer śer, n ɖe c’nt hlp it.

Ś wz ofn yzd in ɖ feytn, n wz vri mć lîct bî sm v ɖ lediz, bcz ś wz so jntl; n sm tîm aftr ɖs ś wz sold t tū lediz hu drouv ɖmslvz, n wontd a sef, gd hors.

I met hr sevṛl tîmz ǎt in ɖ cuntri, gwñ a gd stedi pes, n lcñ az ge n cntntd az a hors cd b. I wz vri glad t si hr, fr ś dzrvd a gd ples.

Aftr ś left s anɖr hors cem in hr sted. H wz yuñ, n hd a bad nem fr śayñ n startñ, bî ẃć h hd lost a gd ples. I asct him ẃt md him śî.

“Wel, I hardli nǒ,” h sd. “I wz timid ẃn I wz yuñ, n wz a gd dīl frîtnd sevṛl tîmz, n f I sw eniʈñ strenj I yst t trn n lc at it – y si, wɖ ǎr blincrz wn c’nt si or unḍstand ẃt a ʈñ z unls wn lcs rnd – n ɖen mî mastr olwz gev m a ẃipñ, ẃć v cors md m start on, n dd nt mc m les afreid. I ʈnc f h wd hv let m jst lc at ʈñz qaytli, n si ɖt ɖr wz nʈñ t hrt m, it wd hv bn ol rît, n I śd hv got yst t ɖm. Wn de an old jntlmn wz rîdñ wɖ him, n a larj pìs v ẃît pepr or rag blù acrs jst on wn sîd v m. I śaid n startd fwd. Mî mastr az yźl ẃipt m smartli, bt ɖ old man craid ǎt, ’Y’r roñ! y’r roñ! Y śd nvr ẃip a hors fr śayñ; h śîz bcz h z frîtnd, n y onli frîtn him mor n mc ɖ habit wrs.’

So I s’poz ol men d’nt d so. I am śr I d’nt wont t śî fr ɖ sec v it; bt hǎ śd wn nǒ ẃt z denjṛs n ẃt z nt, f wn z nvr alaud t gt yst t eniʈñ? I am nvr afreid v ẃt I nǒ. Nǎ I wz bròt p in a parc ẃr ɖr wr dír; v cors I ń ɖm az wel az I dd a śīp or a cǎ, bt ɖe r nt comn, n I nǒ mni snṣbl horsz hu r frîtnd at ɖm, n hu cic p qt a śindi bfr ɖe wl pas a paḍc ẃr ɖr r dír.”

I ń ẃt mî cmpańn sd wz tru, n I wśt ɖt evri yuñ hors hd az gd mastrz az Farmr Gre n Sqîr Gordn.

V cors w smtmz cem in fr gd drîvñ hir. I rmembr wn mornñ I wz pt intu ɖ lît gig, n tecn t a hǎs in Pultni Strīt. Tū jntlṃn cem ǎt; ɖ tōlr v ɖm cem rnd t mî hed; h lct at ɖ bit n braidl, n jst śiftd ɖ colr wɖ hiz hand, t si f it fitd cumf̣tbli.

“D y cnsidr ɖs hors wonts a crb?” h sd t ɖ hoslr.

“Wel,” sd ɖ man, “I śd se h wd g jst az wel wɖt; h hz an uncomn gd mǎʈ, n ɖo h hz a fîn spirit h hz no vîs; bt w jenṛli fînd ppl lîc ɖ crb.”

“I d’nt lîc it,” sd ɖ jntlmn; “b so gd az t tec it of, n pt ɖ rein in at ɖ ćīc. An īzi mǎʈ z a gret ʈñ on a loñ jrni, z it nt, old felo?” h sd, patñ mî nec.

Ɖen h tc ɖ reinz, n ɖe bʈ got p. I cn rmembr nǎ hǎ qaytli h trnd m rnd, n ɖen wɖ a lît fīl v ɖ rein, n drw̃ ɖ ẃip jntli acrs mî bac, w wr of.

I arćt mî nec n set of at mî bst pes. I faund I hd smwn bhnd m hu ń hǎ a gd hors òt t b drivn. It sīmd lîc old tîmz agn, n md m fīl qt ge.

Ɖs jntlmn tc a gret lîcñ t m, n aftr trayñ m sevṛl tîmz wɖ ɖ sadl h priveld upn mî mastr t sel m t a frend v hiz, hu wontd a sef, pleznt hors fr rîdñ. N so it cem t pas ɖt in ɖ sumr I wz sold t Mr. Bari.

Fr a fy dez ol wnt on wel. I faund ɖt mî grūm unḍstd hiz biznis. H cept ɖ stebl clīn n e’ri, n h grūmd m ʈuṛli; n wz nvr uɖ̇wz ɖn jntl. H hd bn an hoslr in wn v ɖ gret hotelz in Baʈ. H hd gvn ɖt p, n nǎ cultvetd frūt n vejtblz fr ɖ marcit, n hiz wîf bréd n fatnd poltri n rabits fr seil. Aftr a ẃl it sīmd t m ɖt mî ots cem vri śort; I hd ɖ bīnz, bt bran wz mixt wɖ ɖm instd v ots, v ẃć ɖr wr vri fy; srtnli nt mor ɖn a qortr v ẃt ɖr śd hv bn. In tū or ʈri wīcs ɖs bgan t tel upn mî streñʈ n spirits. Ɖ gras fūd, ɖo vri gd, wz nt ɖ ʈñ t cīp p mî cndiśn wɖt corn. Hvr, I cd nt cmplen, nr mc noun mî wonts. So it wnt on fr abt tū munʈs; n I wundrd ɖt mî mastr dd nt si ɖt smʈñ wz

ɖ matr. Hvr, wn afṭnun h roud ǎt intu ɖ cuntri t si a frend v hiz, a jntlmn farmr, hu livd on ɖ rod t Wlz.

Ɖs jntlmn hd a vri qc î fr horsz; n aftr h hd welcmd hiz frend h sd, castñ hiz î ovr m:

“It sīmz t m, Bari, ɖt yr hors dz nt lc so wel az h dd ẃn y frst hd him; hz h bn wel?”

“Yes, I b’liv so,” sd mî mastr; “bt h z nt nirli so lîvli az h wz; mî grūm tlz m ɖt horsz r olwz dul n wìc in ɖ ōtm, n ɖt I mst xpct it.”

“Ōtm, fidlstics!” sd ɖ farmr. “Ẃ, ɖs z onli Ōġst; n wɖ yr lît wrc n gd fūd h òt nt t g dǎn lîc ɖs, īvn f it wz ōtm. Hǎ d y fīd him?”

Mî mastr tld him. Ɖ uɖr śc hiz hed slǒli, n bgan t fīl m ovr.

“I c’nt se hu īts yr corn, mî dir felo, bt I am mć mstecn f yr hors gts it. Hv y ridn vri fast?”

“No, vri jntli.”

“Ɖen jst pt yr hand hir,” sd h, pasñ hiz hand ovr mî nec n śoldr; “h z az worm n damp az a hors jst cm p fṛm gras. I advîz y t lc intu yr stebl a litl mor. I het t b sspiśs, n, ʈanc hevn, I hv no cōz t b, fr I cn trust mî men, preznt or absnt; bt ɖr r mīn scǎndṛlz, wicid inuf t rob a dum bīst v hiz fūd. Y mst lc intu it.” N trnñ t hiz man, hu hd cm t tec m, “Gv ɖs hors a rît gd fīd v bruzd ots, n d’nt stint him.”

“Dum bīsts!” Yes, w r; bt f I cd hv spocn I cd hv tld mî mastr ẃr hiz ots wnt t. Mî grūm yst t cm evri mornñ abt six o’cloc, n wɖ him a litl bô, hu olwz hd a cuvrd bascit wɖ him. H yst t g wɖ hiz faɖr intu ɖ harnisrūm, ẃr ɖ corn wz cept, n I cd si ɖm, ẃn ɖ dor std ajar, fil a litl bag wɖ ots ǎt v ɖ bin, n ɖen h yst t b of.

Fîv or six mornñz aftr ɖs, jst az ɖ bô hd left ɖ stebl, ɖ dor wz pśt opn, n a p’līsmn wōct in, holdñ ɖ ćîld tît bî ɖ arm; anɖr p’līsmn foloud, n loct ɖ dor on ɖ insd, seyñ, “Śo m ɖ ples ẃr yr faɖr cīps hiz rabits’ fūd.”

Ɖ bô lct vri frîtnd n bgan t crî; bt ɖr wz no iscep, n h léd ɖ we t ɖ cornbin. Hir ɖ p’līsmn faund anɖr emti bag lîc ɖt ẃć wz faund fl v ots in ɖ bô’z bascit.

Filćr wz clīnñ mî fīt at ɖ tîm, bt ɖe sn sw him, n ɖo h blustrd a gd dīl ɖe wōct him of t ɖ “loc-up”, n hiz bô wɖ him. I hŕd afṭwd ɖt ɖ bô wz nt hld t b gilti, bt ɖ man wz sntnst t prizn fr tū munʈs.

Alfrid Smrc cnsidrd himslf vri hansm; h spent a gret dīl v tîm abt hiz her, ẃiscrz n nectî, bfr a litl lcñglas in ɖ harnisrūm. Ẃn hiz mastr wz spīcñ t him it wz olwz, “Yes, sr; yes, sr” – tućñ hiz hat at evri wrd; n evriwn ʈt h wz a vri nîs yuñ man n ɖt Mr. Bari wz vri forćṇt t mīt wɖ him. I śd se h wz ɖ leziist, most cnsitd felo I evr cem nir. V cors, it wz a gret ʈñ nt t b il-yzd, bt ɖen a hors wonts mor ɖn ɖt. I hd a lūs box, n mt hv bn vri cumf̣tbl f h hd nt bn tù indḷnt t clīn it ǎt. H nvr tc ol ɖ strw awe, n ɖ smel fṛm ẃt le undnʈ wz vri bad; ẃl ɖ stroñ veprz ɖt rouz md mî îz smart n inflem, n I dd nt fīl ɖ sem aṗtît fr mî fūd.

Wn de hiz mastr cem in n sd, “Alfrid, ɖ stebl smelz rɖr stroñ; śd nt y gv ɖt stōl a gd scrub n ʈro dǎn plenti v wōtr?”

“Wel, sr,” h sd, tućñ hiz cap, “I’l d so f y plīz, sr; bt it z rɖr denjṛs, sr, ʈrowñ dǎn wōtr in a hors’z box; ɖe r vri apt t tec cold, sr. I śd nt lîc t d him an inɉri, bt I’l d it f y plīz, sr.”

“Wel,” sd hiz mastr, “I śd nt lîc him t tec cold; bt I d’nt lîc ɖ smel v ɖs stebl. D y ʈnc ɖ drenz r ol rît?”

“Wel, sr, nǎ y mnśn it, I ʈnc ɖ dren dz smtmz snd bac a smel; ɖr me b smʈñ roñ, sr.”

“Ɖen snd fr ɖ bricleyr n hv it sìn t,” sd hiz mastr. “Yes, sr, I wl.”

Ɖ bricleyr cem n pld p a gret mni brics, bt faund nʈñ amis; so h pt dǎn sm lîm n ćarjd ɖ mastr fîv śilñz, n ɖ smel in mî box wz az bad az evr. Bt ɖt wz nt ol: standñ az I dd on a qontti v môst strw mî fīt grù unhelʈi n tndr, n ɖ mastr yst t se:

“I d’nt nǒ ẃt z ɖ matr wɖ ɖs hors; h gz vri fumbl-fŭtd. I am smtmz afreid h wl stumbl.”

“Yes, sr,” sd Alfrid, “I hv notist ɖ sem mslf, ẃn I hv x’sîzd him.”

Nǎ ɖ fact wz ɖt h hardli evr dd x’sîz m, n ẃn ɖ mastr wz bizi I ofn std fr dez tgɖr wɖt strećñ mî legz at ol, n yt biyñ féd jst az hî az f I wr at hard wrc. Ɖs ofn dsordrd mî hlʈ, n md m smtmz hevi n dul, bt mor ofn restlis n fīṿriś. H nvr īvn gev m a mīl v grīn fūd or a bran maś, ẃć wd hv cūld m, fr h wz oltgɖr az ignṛnt az h wz cnsitd; n ɖen, instd v x’sîz or ćenj v fūd, I hd t tec horsbōlz n dráfts; ẃć, bsd ɖ ńsns v hvñ ɖm pord dǎn mî ʈrot, yst t mc m fīl il n uncumf̣tbl.

Wn de mî fīt wr so tndr ɖt, trotñ ovr sm freś stonz wɖ mî mastr on mî bac, I md tū sć sirịs stumblz ɖt, az h cem dǎn Lanzdǎn intu ɖ siti, h stopt at ɖ farịr’z, n asct him t si ẃt wz ɖ matr wɖ m. Ɖ man tc p mî fīt wn bî wn n xamind ɖm; ɖen standñ p n dustñ hiz handz wn agnst ɖ uɖr, h sd:

“Yr hors hz got ɖ ‘ʈruś’, n badli, tù; hiz fīt r vri tndr; it z forćṇt ɖt h hz nt bn dǎn. I wundr yr grūm hz nt sìn t it bfr. Ɖs z ɖ sort v ʈñ w fînd in fǎl steblz, ẃr ɖ litr z nvr proprli clīnd ǎt. F y wl snd him hir tmoro I wl atnd t ɖ hūf, n I wl d’rect yr man hǎ t aplî ɖ linimnt ẃć I wl gv him.”

Ɖ nxt de I hd mî fīt ʈuṛli clenzd n stuft wɖ tou sǒct in sm stroñ lośn; n an unpleznt biznis it wz.

Ɖ farịr ordrd ol ɖ litr t b tecn ǎt v mî box de bî de, n ɖ flor cept vri clīn. Ɖen I wz t hv bran maśz, a litl grīn fūd, n nt so mć corn, tl mî fīt wr wel agn. Wɖ ɖs trītmnt I sn rgend mî spirits; bt Mr. Bari wz so mć dsgustd at biyñ twîs dsivd bî hiz grūmz ɖt h dtrmind t gv p cīpñ a hors, n t hîr ẃn h wontd wn. I wz ɖrfr cept tl mî fīt wr qt sǎnd, n wz ɖen sold agn.