one almost before I could draw my breath. I
galloped to the further side of the meadow, and there I stood snorting
with astonishment and fear. In the course of the day many other trains
went by, some more slowly; these drew up at the station close by, and
sometimes made an awful shriek and groan before they stopped. I thought
it very dreadful, but the cows went on eating very quietly, and hardly
raised their heads as the black, frightful thing came puffing and
grinding past. For the first few days I could not feed in peace; but as
I found that this terrible creature never came into the field, or did me
any harm, I began to disregard it, and very soon I cared as little about
the passing of a train as the cows and sheep did.

Since then I have seen many horses much alarmed and restive at the sight
or sound of a steam engine; but, thanks to my good master's care, I am
as fearless at railway stations as in my own stable. Now if any one
wants to break in a young horse well, that is the way.

My master often drove me in double harness, with my mother, because she
was steady and could teach me how to go better than a strange horse. She
told me the better I behaved the better I should be treated, and that it
was wisest always to do my best to please my master. "I hope you will
fall into good hands, but a horse never knows who may buy him, or who
may drive him; it is all a chance for us; but still I say, do your best
wherever it is, and keep up your good name."

[Illustration]

CHAPTER IV

BIRTWICK PARK

It was early in May, when there came a man from Gordon's, who took me
away to the Hall. My master said, "Good-bye, Darkie; be a good horse and
always do your best." I could not say "good-bye," so I put my nose in
his hand; he patted me kindly, and I left my first home. I will describe
the stable into which I was taken; this was very roomy, with four good
stalls; a large swinging window opened into the yard, making it pleasant
and airy.

The first stall was a large square one, shut in behind with a wooden
gate; the others were common stalls, good stalls, but not nearly so
large. It had a low rack for hay and a low manger for corn; it was
called a box stall, because the horse that was put into it was not tied
up, but left loose, to do as he liked. It is a great thing to have a box
stall.

Into this fine box the groom put me; it was clean, sweet, and airy. I
never was in a better box than that, and the sides were