"And I'll lead him. Wait till I fix the halter."
Prue climbed up on the side of the stall where Nibble was, and he stood perfectly still while she clambered over to her place on his back.
Barry knew exactly what to do, and the old war-horse began to think he did himself. He must have been thinking, for he half closed one eye as he was walking out, and opened the other very wide, with a wonderfully knowing look.
He was looking down the lane, and he saw that the front gate was open, and just at that moment there came up the road, very faint and sweet, the music of the cavalry bugle.
"Nibble! Nibble!" exclaimed Barry, "where are you going?"
Hannibal did not answer a word, but walked on down the lane very fast indeed, and Barry lost hold of the halter.
As for Prue, she was not scared a particle, for she had ridden in that way many a time, and her confidence in herself and old Nibble was unbounded.
"Cluck, cluck, cluck—get-ap."
"Stop, Prue, stop. He's going faster."
"Get-ap! Come, Barry. Oh, there's mother at the window!"