The light shone too in the big,
astonished eyes of the fine animal he bestrode, now and then turning his
head inquisitively toward Briscoe--who stood close by with a cautious
grasp on the skirts of the little boy--as if wondering to feel the clutch
of the infantile hands on his mane and the tempestuous beat of the little
feet as Archie cried out his urgency to speed.
Archie would not willingly have relinquished this joy till dawn, and the
problem how to get him peaceably off the horse became critical. He had
repeatedly declined to dismount, when at length a lucky inspiration
visited Briscoe. The amiable host called for an ear of corn, and with
this he lured the little horseman to descend, in order to feed a "poor
pig" represented as in the last stages of famine and dependent solely on
the ministrations of the small guest. Here renewed delights expanded, for
the "poor pig" became lively and almost "gamesome," being greatly
astonished by the light and men and the repast at this hour of the night.
Pages:
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44