GOING FOR THE DOCTOR
One night I was lying down in my straw fast asleep, when I was suddenly
roused by the stable bell ringing very loud. I heard the door of John's
house open, and his feet running up to the Hall. He was back again in no
time; he unlocked the stable door, and came in, calling out, "Wake up,
Beauty! you must go well now, if ever you did"; and almost before I
could think, he had got the saddle on my back and the bridle on my head.
He just ran around for his coat, and then took me at a quick trot up to
the Hall door. The Squire stood there, with a lamp in his hand. "Now,
John," he said, "ride for your life--that is, for your mistress' life;
there is not a moment to lose. Give this note to Dr. White; give your
horse a rest at the inn, and be back as soon as you can."
John said, "Yes, sir," and was on my back in a minute. The gardener who
lived at the lodge had heard the bell ring, and was ready with the gate
open, and away we went through the park, and through the village, and
down the hill till we came to the toll-gate. John called very loud and
thumped upon the door; the man was soon out and flung open the gate.
"Now," said John, "do you keep the gate open for the doctor; here's the
money," and off we went again.
[Illustration]
There was before us a long piece of level road by the river-side; John
said to me, "Now, Beauty, do your best," and so I did; I wanted no whip
nor spur, and for two miles I galloped as fast I could lay my feet to
the ground; I don't believe that my old grandfather, who won the race at
Newmarket, could have gone faster. When we came to the bridge, John
pulled me up a little and patted my neck. "Well done, Beauty! good old
fellow," he said. He would have let me go slower, but my spirit was up,
and I was off again as fast as before. The air was frosty, the moon was
bright; it was very pleasant. We came through a village, then through a
dark wood, then uphill, then downhill, till after an eight miles' run,
we came to the town, through the streets and into the market-place. It
was all quite still except the clatter of my feet on the
stones--everybody was asleep. The church clock struck three as we drew
up at Dr. White's door. John rang the bell twice, and then knocked at
the door like thunder. A window was thrown up, and the doctor, in his
night-cap, put his head out and said, "What do you want?"
"Mrs. Gordon is very ill, sir; master wants you to go at once; he thinks
she will die if you cannot get there. Here is a note."
"Wait," he said, "I will come."
He shut the window and was soon at the door. "The worst of it is," he
said, "that my horse has been out all day, and is quite done up; my son
has just been sent for, and he has taken the other. What is to be done?
Can I have your horse?"
"He has come at a gallop nearly all the way, sir, and I was to give him
a rest here; but I think my master would not be against it, if you think
fit, sir."
"All right," he said; "I will soon be ready."
John stood by me and stroked my neck. I was very hot. The doctor came
out with his riding-whip. "You need not take that, sir," said John;
"Black Beauty will go till he drops. Take care of him, sir, if you can;
I should not like any harm to come to him."
"No, no, John," said the doctor, "I hope not," and in a minute we had
left John far behind.
[Illustration]
I will not tell about our way back. The doctor was a heavier man than
John, and not so good a rider; however, I did my very best. The man at
the toll-gate had it open. When we came to the hill, the doctor drew me
up. "Now, my good fellow," he said, "take some breath." I was glad he
did, for I was nearly spent, but that breathing helped me on, and soon
we were in the park. Joe was at the lodge gate; my master was at the
Hall door, for he had heard us coming. He spoke not a word; the doctor
went into the house with him, and Joe led me to the stable. I was glad
to get home; my legs shook under me, and I could only stand and pant. I
had not a dry hair on my body, the water ran down my legs, and I steamed
all over--Joe used to say, like a pot on the fire. Poor Joe! he was
young and small, and as yet he knew very little, and his father, who
would have helped him, had been sent to the next village; but I am sure
he did the very best he knew. He rubbed my legs and my chest, but he did
not put my warm cloth on me; he thought I was so hot I should not like
it. Then he gave me a pail full of water to drink; it was cold and very
good, and I drank it all; then he gave me some hay and some corn, and,
thinking he had done right, he went away. Soon I began to shake and
tremble, and turned deadly cold; my legs ached, my loins ached, and my
chest ached, and I felt sore all over. This developed into a strong
inflammation, and I could not draw my breath without pain. John nursed
me night and day. My master, too, often came to see me. "My poor
Beauty," he said one day, "my good horse, you saved your mistress' life,
Beauty; yes, you saved her life." I was very glad to hear that, for it
seems the doctor had said if we had been a little longer it would have
been too late. John told my master he never saw a horse go so fast in
his life. It seems as if the horse knew what was the matter. Of course I
did, though John thought not; at least I knew as much as this--that John
and I must go at the top of our speed, and that it was for the sake of
the mistress.