Little Men Page 16

  CHAPTER XVI. TAMING THE COLT

  "What in the world is that boy doing?" said Mrs. Jo to herself, as shewatched Dan running round the half-mile triangle as if for a wager.He was all alone, and seemed possessed by some strange desire to runhimself into a fever, or break his neck; for, after several rounds, hetried leaping walls, and turning somersaults up the avenue, and finallydropped down on the grass before the door as if exhausted.

  "Are you training for a race, Dan?" asked Mrs. Jo, from the window whereshe sat.

  He looked up quickly, and stopped panting to answer, with a laugh,

  "No; I'm only working off my steam."

  "Can't you find a cooler way of doing it? You will be ill if you tearabout so in such warm weather," said Mrs. Jo, laughing also, as shethrew him out a great palm-leaf fan.

  "Can't help it. I must run somewhere," answered Dan, with such an oddexpression in his restless eyes, that Mrs. Jo was troubled, and asked,quickly,

  "Is Plumfield getting too narrow for you?"

  "I wouldn't mind if it was a little bigger. I like it though; only thefact is the devil gets into me sometimes, and then I do want to bolt."

  The words seemed to come against his will, for he looked sorry theminute they were spoken, and seemed to think he deserved a reproof forhis ingratitude. But Mrs. Jo understood the feeling, and though sorry tosee it, she could not blame the boy for confessing it. She looked at himanxiously, seeing how tall and strong he had grown, how full of energyhis face was, with its eager eyes and resolute mouth; and rememberingthe utter freedom he had known for years before, she felt how even thegentle restraint of this home would weigh upon him at times when the oldlawless spirit stirred in him. "Yes," she said to herself, "my wild hawkneeds a larger cage; and yet, if I let him go, I am afraid he will belost. I must try and find some lure strong enough to keep him safe."

  "I know all about it," she added, aloud. "It is not 'the devil,' as youcall it, but the very natural desire of all young people for liberty. Iused to feel just so, and once, I really did think for a minute that Iwould bolt."

  "Why didn't you?" said Dan, coming to lean on the low window-ledge, withan evident desire to continue the subject.

  "I knew it was foolish, and love for my mother kept me at home."

  "I haven't got any mother," began Dan.

  "I thought you had now," said Mrs. Jo, gently stroking the rough hairoff his hot forehead.

  "You are no end good to me, and I can't ever thank you enough, but itjust isn't the same, is it?" and Dan looked up at her with a wistful,hungry look that went to her heart.

  "No, dear, it is not the same, and never can be. I think an own motherwould have been a great deal to you. But as that cannot be, you musttry to let me fill her place. I fear I have not done all I ought, or youwould not want to leave me," she added, sorrowfully.

  "Yes, you have!" cried Dan, eagerly. "I don't want to go, and I won'tgo, if I can help it; but every now and then I feel as if I must burstout somehow. I want to run straight ahead somewhere, to smash something,or pitch into somebody. Don't know why, but I do, and that's all aboutit."

  Dan laughed as he spoke, but he meant what he said, for he knit hisblack brows, and brought down his fist on the ledge with such force,that Mrs. Jo's thimble flew off into the grass. He brought it back, andas she took it she held the big, brown hand a minute, saying, with alook that showed the words cost her something,

  "Well, Dan, run if you must, but don't run very far; and come back to mesoon, for I want you very much."

  He was rather taken aback by this unexpected permission to play truant,and somehow it seemed to lessen his desire to go. He did not understandwhy, but Mrs. Jo did, and, knowing the natural perversity of the humanmind, counted on it to help her now. She felt instinctively that themore the boy was restrained the more he would fret against it; but leavehim free, and the mere sense of liberty would content him, joined to theknowledge that his presence was dear to those whom he loved best. It wasa little experiment, but it succeeded, for Dan stood silent a moment,unconsciously picking the fan to pieces and turning the matter overin his mind. He felt that she appealed to his heart and his honor,and owned that he understood it by saying presently, with a mixture ofregret and resolution in his face,

  "I won't go yet awhile, and I'll give you fair warning before I bolt.That's fair, isn't it?"

  "Yes, we will let it stand so. Now, I want to see if I can't find someway for you to work off your steam better than running about the placelike a mad dog, spoiling my fans, or fighting with the boys. What can weinvent?" and while Dan tried to repair the mischief he had done, Mrs.Jo racked her brain for some new device to keep her truant safe until hehad learned to love his lessons better.

  "How would you like to be my express-man?" she said, as a sudden thoughtpopped into her head.

  "Go into town, and do the errands?" asked Dan, looking interested atonce.

  "Yes; Franz is tired of it, Silas cannot be spared just now, and Mr.Bhaer has no time. Old Andy is a safe horse, you are a good driver, andknow your way about the city as well as a postman. Suppose you try it,and see if it won't do most as well to drive away two or three times aweek as to run away once a month."

  "I'd like it ever so much, only I must go alone and do it all myself. Idon't want any of the other fellows bothering round," said Dan, takingto the new idea so kindly that he began to put on business airs already.

  "If Mr. Bhaer does not object you shall have it all your own way. Isuppose Emil will growl, but he cannot be trusted with horses, and youcan. By the way, to-morrow is market-day, and I must make out my list.You had better see that the wagon is in order, and tell Silas to havethe fruit and vegetables ready for mother. You will have to be up earlyand get back in time for school, can you do that?"

  "I'm always an early bird, so I don't mind," and Dan slung on his jacketwith despatch.

  "The early bird got the worm this time, I'm sure," said Mrs. Jo,merrily.

  "And a jolly good worm it is," answered Dan, as he went laughing away toput a new lash to the whip, wash the wagon, and order Silas about withall the importance of a young express-man.

  "Before he is tired of this I will find something else and have it readywhen the next restless fit comes on," said Mrs. Jo to herself, as shewrote her list with a deep sense of gratitude that all her boys were notDans.

  Mr. Bhaer did not entirely approve of the new plan, but agreed to giveit a trial, which put Dan on his mettle, and caused him to give upcertain wild plans of his own, in which the new lash and the longhill were to have borne a part. He was up and away very early the nextmorning, heroically resisting the temptation to race with the milkmengoing into town. Once there, he did his errands carefully, to Mr.Bhaer's surprise and Mrs. Jo's great satisfaction. The Commodore didgrowl at Dan's promotion, but was pacified by a superior padlock to hisnew boat-house, and the thought that seamen were meant for higher honorsthan driving market-wagons and doing family errands. So Dan filledhis new office well and contentedly for weeks, and said no more aboutbolting. But one day Mr. Bhaer found him pummelling Jack, who wasroaring for mercy under his knee.

  "Why, Dan, I thought you had given up fighting," he said, as he went tothe rescue.

  "We ain't fighting, we are only wrestling," answered Dan, leaving offreluctantly.

  "It looks very much like it, and feels like it, hey, Jack?" said Mr.Bhaer, as the defeated gentleman got upon his legs with difficulty.

  "Catch me wrestling with him again. He's most knocked my head off,"snarled Jack, holding on to that portion of his frame as if it reallywas loose upon his shoulders.

  "The fact is, we began in fun, but when I got him down I couldn't helppounding him. Sorry I hurt you, old fellow," explained Dan, lookingrather ashamed of himself.

  "I understand. The longing to pitch into somebody was so strong youcouldn't resist. You are a sort of Berserker, Dan, and something totussle with is as necessary to you as music is to Nat," said Mr. Bhaer,who knew all about the conversation between th
e boy and Mrs. Jo.

  "Can't help it. So if you don't want to be pounded you'd better keep outof the way," answered Dan, with a warning look in his black eyes thatmade Jack sheer off in haste.

  "If you want something to wrestle with, I will give you a tougherspecimen than Jack," said Mr. Bhaer; and, leading the way to thewood-yard, he pointed out certain roots of trees that had been grubbedup in the spring, and had been lying there waiting to be split.

  "There, when you feel inclined to maltreat the boys, just come and workoff your energies here, and I'll thank you for it."

  "So I will;" and, seizing the axe that lay near Dan hauled out a toughroot, and went at it so vigorously, that the chips flew far and wide,and Mr. Bhaer fled for his life.

  To his great amusement, Dan took him at his word, and was often seenwrestling with the ungainly knots, hat and jacket off, red face, andwrathful eyes; for he got into royal rages over some of his adversaries,and swore at them under his breath till he had conquered them, when heexulted, and marched off to the shed with an armful of gnarled oak-woodin triumph. He blistered his hands, tired his back, and dulled the axe,but it did him good, and he got more comfort out of the ugly roots thanany one dreamed, for with each blow he worked off some of the pent-uppower that would otherwise have been expended in some less harmless way.

  "When this is gone I really don't know what I shall do," said Mrs. Joto herself, for no inspiration came, and she was at the end of herresources.

  But Dan found a new occupation for himself, and enjoyed it some timebefore any one discovered the cause of his contentment. A fine younghorse of Mr. Laurie's was kept at Plumfield that summer, running loosein a large pasture across the brook. The boys were all interested in thehandsome, spirited creature, and for a time were fond of watching himgallop and frisk with his plumey tail flying, and his handsome headin the air. But they soon got tired of it, and left Prince Charlie tohimself. All but Dan, he never tired of looking at the horse, and seldomfailed to visit him each day with a lump of sugar, a bit of bread, oran apple to make him welcome. Charlie was grateful, accepted hisfriendship, and the two loved one another as if they felt some tiebetween them, inexplicable but strong. In whatever part of the widefield he might be, Charlie always came at full speed when Dan whistledat the bars, and the boy was never happier than when the beautiful,fleet creature put its head on his shoulder, looking up at him with fineeyes full of intelligent affection.

  "We understand one another without any palaver, don't we, old fellow?"Dan would say, proud of the horse's confidence, and, so jealous of hisregard, that he told no one how well the friendship prospered, and neverasked anybody but Teddy to accompany him on these daily visits.

  Mr. Laurie came now and then to see how Charlie got on, and spoke ofhaving him broken to harness in the autumn.

  "He won't need much taming, he is such a gentle, fine-tempered brute. Ishall come out and try him with a saddle myself some day," he said, onone of these visits.

  "He lets me put a halter on him, but I don't believe he will bear asaddle even if you put it on," answered Dan, who never failed to bepresent when Charlie and his master met.

  "I shall coax him to bear it, and not mind a few tumbles at first. Hehas never been harshly treated, so, though he will be surprised at thenew performance, I think he won't be frightened, and his antics will dono harm."

  "I wonder what he would do," said Dan to himself, as Mr. Laurie wentaway with the Professor, and Charlie returned to the bars, from which hehad retired when the gentlemen came up.

  A daring fancy to try the experiment took possession of the boy as hesat on the topmost rail with the glossy back temptingly near him.Never thinking of danger, he obeyed the impulse, and while Charlieunsuspectingly nibbled at the apple he held, Dan quickly and quietlytook his seat. He did not keep it long, however, for with an astonishedsnort, Charlie reared straight up, and deposited Dan on the ground. Thefall did not hurt him, for the turf was soft, and he jumped up, saying,with a laugh,

  "I did it anyway! Come here, you rascal, and I'll try it again."

  But Charlie declined to approach, and Dan left him resolving to succeedin the end; for a struggle like this suited him exactly. Next time hetook a halter, and having got it on, he played with the horse for awhile, leading him to and fro, and putting him through various anticstill he was a little tired; then Dan sat on the wall and gave him bread,but watched his chance, and getting a good grip of the halter, slippedon to his back. Charlie tried the old trick, but Dan held on, having hadpractice with Toby, who occasionally had an obstinate fit, and tried toshake off his rider. Charlie was both amazed and indignant; and afterprancing for a minute, set off at a gallop, and away went Dan heels overhead. If he had not belonged to the class of boys who go through allsorts of dangers unscathed, he would have broken his neck; as it was, hegot a heavy fall, and lay still collecting his wits, while Charlie toreround the field tossing his head with every sign of satisfaction atthe discomfiture of his rider. Presently it seemed to occur to him thatsomething was wrong with Dan, and, being of a magnanimous nature, hewent to see what the matter was. Dan let him sniff about and perplexhimself for a few minutes; then he looked up at him, saying, asdecidedly as if the horse could understand,

  "You think you have beaten, but you are mistaken, old boy; and I'll rideyou yet see if I don't."

  He tried no more that day, but soon after attempted a new method ofintroducing Charlie to a burden. He strapped a folded blanket on hisback, and then let him race, and rear, and roll, and fume as much ashe liked. After a few fits of rebellion Charlie submitted, and in a fewdays permitted Dan to mount him, often stopped short to look round, asif he said, half patiently, half reproachfully, "I don't understand it,but I suppose you mean no harm, so I permit the liberty."

  Dan patted and praised him, and took a short turn every day, gettingfrequent falls, but persisting in spite of them, and longing to try asaddle and bridle, but not daring to confess what he had done. He hadhis wish, however, for there had been a witness of his pranks who said agood word for him.

  "Do you know what that chap has ben doin' lately?" asked Silas of hismaster, one evening, as he received his orders for the next day.

  "Which boy?" said Mr. Bhaer, with an air of resignation, expecting somesad revelation.

  "Dan, he's ben a breaking the colt, sir, and I wish I may die if heain't done it," answered Silas, chuckling.

  "How do you know?"

  "Wal, I kinder keep an eye on the little fellers, and most gen'lly knowwhat they're up to; so when Dan kep going off to the paster, and cominghome black and blue, I mistrusted that suthing was goin' on. I didn'tsay nothin', but I crep up into the barn chamber, and from there I seehim goin' through all manner of games with Charlie. Blest if he warn'tthrowed time and agin, and knocked round like a bag o' meal. But thepluck of that boy did beat all, and he 'peared to like it, and kep on asef bound to beat."

  "But, Silas, you should have stopped it the boy might have been killed,"said Mr. Bhaer, wondering what freak his irrepressibles would take intotheir heads next.

  "S'pose I oughter; but there warn't no real danger, for Charlie ain'tno tricks, and is as pretty a tempered horse as ever I see. Fact was, Icouldn't bear to spile sport, for ef there's any thing I do admire it'sgrit, and Dan is chock full on 't. But now I know he's hankerin' aftera saddle, and yet won't take even the old one on the sly; so I justthought I'd up and tell, and may be you'd let him try what he can do.Mr. Laurie won't mind, and Charlie's all the better for 't."

  "We shall see;" and off went Mr. Bhaer to inquire into the matter.

  Dan owned up at once, and proudly proved that Silas was right by showingoff his power over Charlie; for by dint of much coaxing, many carrots,and infinite perseverance, he really had succeeded in riding the coltwith a halter and blanket. Mr. Laurie was much amused, and well pleasedwith Dan's courage and skill, and let him have a hand in all futureperformances; for he set about Charlie's education at once, sayingthat he was not going to be outdone by a slip of
a boy. Thanks to Dan,Charlie took kindly to the saddle and bridle when he had once reconciledhimself to the indignity of the bit; and after Mr. Laurie had trainedhim a little, Dan was permitted to ride him, to the great envy andadmiration of the other boys.

  "Isn't he handsome? and don't he mind me like a lamb?" said Dan one dayas he dismounted and stood with his arm round Charlie's neck.

  "Yes, and isn't he a much more useful and agreeable animal than thewild colt who spent his days racing about the field, jumping fences, andrunning away now and then?" asked Mrs. Bhaer from the steps where shealways appeared when Dan performed with Charlie.

  "Of course he is. See he won't run away now, even if I don't hold him,and he comes to me the minute I whistle; I have tamed him well, haven'tI?" and Dan looked both proud and pleased, as well he might, for, inspite of their struggles together, Charlie loved him better than hismaster.

  "I am taming a colt too, and I think I shall succeed as well as you ifI am as patient and persevering," said Mrs. Jo, smiling so significantlyat him, that Dan understood and answered, laughing, yet in earnest,

  "We won't jump over the fence and run away, but stay and let them make ahandsome, useful span of us, hey, Charlie?"