"So he hung his head, leaned against the side of the stall, and tried to
look as if it hurt him to breathe. When his master came into the stable,
he said:

"'Hello, what can be the matter with this horse? He was well when I fed
him yesterday; but now he seems to be nearly dead.'

"Then the master went out of the stable, and Mr. Horse said to himself
with a grin:

"'He has gone to get some medicine for me! The plan seems to be working
well.'

"Soon the master came back, and with him was a great big black man, who
carried an axe over his shoulder.

"'That horse is very sick,' said the master.

"'He certainly is,' replied the man with the axe.

[Illustration: Mr. Horse is Well Pleased.]

"'And there's only one thing to be done,' said the master.

"'Only one thing,' added the man with the axe.

"'Well, Jim,' said the master, 'hit him squarely between the eyes, and
as hard as you can, for I don't want him flopping all around the place
before he dies.'