st as soon as he can, if
he isn't sick or lost," murmured Ben, inwardly thanking his stars that
he had not done anything to make him quake before that awful finger, and
resolving that he never would.

Here a red-headed Irishman came to the door, and stood eying the boy
with small favor while the Squire gave his orders.

"Pat, this lad wants work. He's to take the cows and go for them. Give
him any light jobs you have, and let me know if he's good for anything."

"Yis, your honor. Come out o' this, b'y, till I show ye the bastes,"
responded Pat; and, with a hasty good-bye to Mrs. Moss, Ben followed his
new leader, sorely tempted to play some naughty trick upon him in return
for his ungracious reception.

But in a moment he forgot that Pat existed, for in the yard stood the
Duke of Wellington, so named in honor of his Roman nose. If Ben had
known anything about Shakspeare he would have cried, "A horse, a
horse!--my kingdom for a horse!" for the feeling was in his heart, and
he ran up to the stately animal without a fear. Duke put back his ears
and swished his tail as if displeased for a moment; but Ben looked
straight in his eyes, gave a scientific stroke to the iron-gray nose,
and uttered a chirrup which made the ears prick up as if recognizing a
familiar sound.

"He'll nip ye, if ye go botherin' that way. L'ave him alone, and attind
to the cattle as his honor tould ye," commanded Pat, who made a great
show of respect toward Duke in public, and kicked him brutally in
private.

"I aint afraid! You wont hurt me, will you, old feller? See there
now!--he knows I'm a friend, and takes to me right off," said Ben, with
an arm around Duke's neck, and his own cheek confidingly laid against
the animal's, for the intelligent eyes spoke to him as plainly as the
little whinny which he understood and accepted as a welcome.

The Squire saw it all from the open window, and suspecting from Pat's
face that trouble was brewing, called out:

"Let the lad harness Duke, if he can. I'm going out directly, and he may
as well try that as anything."

Ben was delighted, and proved himself so brisk and handy that the roomy
chaise stood at the door in a surprisingly short time, with a smiling
little ostler at Duke's head when the Judge came out.

His affection for the horse pleased the old gentleman, and his neat way
of harnessing suited as well; but Ben got no praise except a nod and a
brief "All right, boy," as the equipage went creaki