well as I that if a horse makes a false step, he has much less chance
of recovering himself if his head and neck are fastened back. And now,"
said the master, laughing, "I have given my hobby a good trot out, can't
you make up your mind to mount him, too, captain? Your example would go
a long way."

"I believe you are right in theory," said the other, "and that's rather
a hard hit about the soldiers; but--well--I'll think about it," and so
they parted.




12 A Stormy Day


One day late in the autumn my master had a long journey to go on
business. I was put into the dog-cart, and John went with his master. I
always liked to go in the dog-cart, it was so light and the high wheels
ran along so pleasantly. There had been a great deal of rain, and now
the wind was very high and blew the dry leaves across the road in a
shower. We went along merrily till we came to the toll-bar and the low
wooden bridge. The river banks were rather high, and the bridge, instead
of rising, went across just level, so that in the middle, if the river
was full, the water would be nearly up to the woodwork and planks; but
as there were good substantial rails on each side, people did not mind
it.

The man at the gate said the river was rising fast, and he feared it
would be a bad night. Many of the meadows were under water, and in one