“What will you give me for my secret?” asked Old Gray.
“My share of the feed that we’ll get for our dinner.”
“All right,” said Old Gray; “I’ll tell you as soon as I have eaten it.”
In a little while the farmer passed through the stable, and poured out six quarts of oats for each horse. And the colt, although he was very hungry and his mouth watered for them, allowed the old horse to put his head over and eat up every grain in his manger.
“Now,” said the colt, impatiently, “tell me, as you promised, how I can stop that young rogue from poking at my ribs every morning.”
“In this way,” said the old horse. “Let him do it, and pretend you don’t feel it.”
“Is that all you have to say?” said the colt, angrily. “I could have done that without being told, or being cheated out of my dinner, either.”