"I'm going after the doctor," said Mr. Nutt, "and that critter runs away so'st I can't do nothin' with him. It's Lawyer Chadbourne's horse, down to Westport, 'at I took for his keep, and that's more'n I'll get out 'n him. S'pose I can get your father's team, boys?"
"Wouldn't wonder," said they. "Father's chopping wood in the north lot."
With that Mr. Nutt started off across the field, and the boys walked down to the gate to look at the horse. He was a red horse, with "three-white-feet-and-a-white-nose—take-off-his-shoes-and-give-him-to-the-crows."
The boys walked around him, and looked at him, and felt of the harness.
"Looks kind enough," said Steve.
"Don't believe he'll run away," said Sam.
"The harness is stout," said Charley.
Then they all looked at each other and laughed.
"S'pose we do," said they; "and be spry about it."
So Sam and Charley got into the sleigh, and Steve unhitched the horse, and got on behind, with one foot on each runner, and Charley took the reins, and away they all went. The horse didn't go so very fast at first, but he kept going faster and faster and faster; and pretty soon the sleigh hit his heels. Then didn't he go!