"Why," I said, "is it so bad as that to live? I have always had a good time."
"Yes, it is very bad to live if you are owned by some people. Of course I am happy and contented here, only I know I shall be sold by and by. I am about worn out, and Dr. Fred said before he went away that I was getting too stiff for a doctor's horse."
"But my Master is never going to sell me!"
"How do you know that?"
"He says I am going to live with him always, and be shot on his grave."
"Well, Dr. Dick is an exception among men; but he don't always get his way."
The season following my coming to K—— proved to be a never-to-be-forgotten one. Cholera raged for many weeks, and I had to take my share of the work, especially as Queen was not strong. She was never as well again before that night in the livery stable. She took cold easily and could not endure fatigue. Days and nights together Master never rested and scarcely ate anything, but in one sense it was a good thing; it helped him forget.
One day he had had the bays out since just after midnight and Ross had fallen terribly lame the day before, so when a call came for him to go a dozen or more miles in a pouring rain he was obliged to saddle me.
"Poor little Dandy!" he said, "your legs are too short for such a journey, but it is life or death to the mother of seven little ones."
That was enough for me; my legs might be short but they were strong, and though the doctor was heavy I felt equal to the task. I started off on a swift canter but Master drew rein, telling me to husband my strength for the last half of the way.