ed toward the platform on
which Albert stood swinging a long whip.

The "near horse" of the Farnshaw team was a stolid and reliable mare,
mother of many colts. She was so placed because it had been decided to put
a young stallion of uncertain temper beside her.

The restive, irritable beast sustained his reputation by nipping angrily
at Mr. Farnshaw as he dodged under the straps with which the horses were
tied to the reach ahead. To have passed in front of this team unencumbered
and alone when the power was in motion would have been foolhardy; but with
Jack in his arms it was an act of mock-heroics typical of the whole
bull-headed character of Josiah Farnshaw. He stumbled slightly in
springing out of the horse's way, and with Jack, who was a load, in his
arms, was barely able to keep his feet.

A shout went up from every man who saw the occurrence, and Albert shut off
the power in the endeavour to stop the machine.

Mr. Farnshaw sprang toward the inner corner of the triangular space
occupied by the team, and as the machine slowly came to a full stop set
Jack on the boards at Albert's feet and turned toward the horses. The
stallion threw a challenge at the man who had escaped its teeth, reared
angrily, shook its black mane, and, with teeth exposed and ears laid back,
prepared for another lunge. Not only Mrs. Farnshaw but every man on the
ground called to Josiah Farnshaw to get out of the way of the infuriated
beast. Instead of heeding the frantic warnings, Mr. Farnshaw, determined
to let his onlooking neighbours see that he was not afraid, sprang forward
and struck the squealing animal a stinging blow on the nose with his fist.
Taken by surprise, the horse set back so suddenly that he broke the straps
with which he and his mate were fastened to the reach, falling against the
mare, who was thoroughly frightened by her master's menacing blow. The
team behind them reared and snorted as the stallion sprang to its feet
again.

Then a strange and terrible thing happened. The horse stopped and made
ready for the plunge he had in mind. There were warning cries from every
man in the stackyard, but there was no chance to escape. With a scream
which struck terror to the hearts of the onlookers the brute sprang upon
the man and sunk its teeth through flesh and bone alike as it grabbed the
arm which was aiming a puny blow, and shook him as if he were a rag,
flinging him against the ground under its feet, and shaking him as a dog