One night, a few days after James had left, the stable bell rang very loudly. John ran up to the house and was back in no time.
“Wake up, Beauty! Now you must go as fast as you can!” Almost before I could think, he had the saddle on my back, and we trotted up to the front door. The squire stood there with a lamp in his hand.
“Now, John, ride for your life, or rather for your mistress’s life. There is not a moment to lose. Give this note to Dr White, give your horse a rest at the inn, and come back as soon as you can.”
Away we went through the park and the village. “Now, Beauty, do your best,” said John, and so I did. I needed no whip. The air was frosty and the moon was bright. We went through another village, through a dark wood, uphill and downhill, and after eight miles we came into the sleeping town. The church clock struck three as we stopped at Dr White’s door. John knocked like thunder, and the doctor put his head out of a window.
“Mrs Gordon is very ill, sir. The master thinks she will die if you can’t get there.”
The doctor was soon at the door. “My horse has been out all day and is quite tired,” he said, “and my son has taken the other one. Can I have yours?”
“He has galloped nearly all the way, sir,” said John, “but I think my master would agree. Take care of him if you can.”
The doctor was heavier than John and not such a good rider, but I did my very best. At last we were in the park, and the doctor went into the house with the master. Joe led me to the stable.
My legs shook under me, and I could only stand and breathe hard. I had not a dry hair on my body. Poor Joe! He was young and knew very little yet, but I am sure he did his best. He rubbed my legs and my chest, but he did not put my warm rug on me, because he thought I was too hot. Then he gave me a bucket of cold water, and I drank it all. He gave me some hay and oats, and thinking he had done right, he went away.
Soon I began to shake, and I turned terribly cold. Everything ached. I wished for my warm rug, and I wished for John, but he had eight miles to walk, so I lay down in my straw and tried to sleep. After a long time I heard him at the door, and I gave a low moan. He was at my side in a moment. He covered me with two or three warm rugs and made me a warm drink, and then I think I went to sleep.
“Stupid boy!” I heard John say to himself. “No rug, and I dare say the water was cold too!” But Joe was a good boy, after all.
I was now very ill. My lungs were badly inflamed, and every breath hurt. John nursed me night and day, and the master often came to see me.
“My poor Beauty,” he said one day, “my good horse, you saved your mistress’s life.”
I was very glad to hear that. The doctor had said that if we had been a little later, it would have been too late.