The barn floor was smaller
than it had been, for the fire was consuming it, foot by foot.
"Come on, now!" cried Bert, and a moment later he had thrown aside the
heavy bar that held the doors in place, and had swung them open. The
draft, created by the fire, served to hold them so.
"Now help me drive the horses out," he called to Vincent. "Get behind
them, but look out they don't turn on you."
Cautiously the two boys made their way to where the terrified animals
were. Their mere movement was enough to send the horses off on the run
again. Fortunately the leader smelled the fresh air coming in through
the opened doors. The horse paused a moment on the threshold and
seemed to be staring down into the partly illuminated cow-yard. Would
he jump?
"Go on, old fellow!" called Bert, encouragingly. "Jump! You won't hurt
yourself. It's soft mud. Go ahead, old fellow."
Whether the horse understood, or whether the boy's words calmed him,
could not be told. Certainly he did jump, after a moment's hesitation,
and a glance back at the flames which were coming closer and closer.
The other animals followed in an instant, for they had wanted only a
leader.
Pages:
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29