Crash! Bang! Boom! The trampling of hoofs!--heavy, hollow pounding!--the
tearing and splintering of wood!--all coming from the barn, though loud
enough, indeed, to have come from the next room.

Jonathan was up in an instant muttering, "Where are my rubber boots?--and
my coat?"

"Jonathan! _what_ a combination!"

But he was gone, and I heard the snap of the lantern and the slam of the
back door almost before the rocking-chair in the sitting-room that he had
hit--and talked to--had stopped rocking. Then I heard him calling outside
Hiram's window and then he ran past our window, out to the barn. I wished
he had waited for Hiram, but I had an undercurrent of pleasure in hearing
him run. Jonathan's theory is that there is never any hurry, and now and
then I like to have this notion jolted up a little.

Meanwhile the awful sounds had ceased. There was the rumble of the stable
door, a pause, and Jonathan's voice in conversational tones. Next came the
flashing of Hiram's lantern, and the _tromp, tromp, tromp_, in much
quicker tempo than usual, of Hiram's heavy boots. Hiram's theory was a
good deal like Jonathan's, so this also gave me pleasure. Finally, there
came the flash of another lantern, and I recognized the quick, short step
of Mrs. Hiram. I smiled to myself, picturing the meeting between her and
Jonathan, for I knew just how Jonathan was costumed. In two minutes I
heard her steps repassing, and in five minutes Jonathan returned. He was
chuckling quietly.

"I guess Griz got all she needed--didn't know either of 'em had so much
spunk in 'em."

"What happened?"

"Don't know, exactly, but when I opened that door, there was Griz, just
inside, no halter on, head down, meek as Moses, as far away from Kit's
heels as she could get--she's got the mark of them on her leg and her
flank."

"Is she hurt?--or Kit?"

"No, not so far as we can see, not to amount to anything--except maybe
Griz's feelings."

"And what about Mrs. Hiram's feelings?"

Jonathan laughed aloud. "I was inside with Kit, and she called out to know
if she could help."

"And what did you say?"

"I said, 'Not on your life.' "

"So that was why she came back. Did you really say,'Not on your life,' or
did you only imply it in your tone, while you actually said, 'No, thank
you very much'?"

"I really said it. At least, I don't remember conversations the way you
do, but I didn't feel a bit like thanking anybody, and I don't believe I
did."

"W