True whinneyed sharply. She looked up, and, seeing the empty saddle, started with anxiety and hastened out. The horse rubbed his nose on her sleeve and neighed his message, softly.
She seemed to understand the horse-language at once and, leading him to the horse-block, climbed into the saddle without delay.
And this was True’s first experience of carrying a lady! She was so light of weight, and she spoke to him so fearlessly, that he drew much comfort through his bridle-rein. He started off at an even canter not hesitating at his stable door, though it must have been hard to pass the appetizing sound of Gipsey and Ceph munching at their supper.
This time he took the road, in a long smooth gait, and after a short time reached the strip of woods where Silas had been left.
Master Whitman, thin and very bright of eye, was sitting up now, and seemed much better, so his good wife aided him to mount the horse and climbed up behind him; thus they set out toward home, and True had his first experience of “carrying double.”
What a supper the “pony” had that night!
Oats, dry as pease, corn and carrots, a little flaxseed jelly, and chopped hay springled with salt.
’Twas a supper fit for Eclipse, himself!
FOOTNOTES:
[3] Eclipse and O’Kelly, page 88; Theodore Andrea Cook, M. A., F. S. A.