![]() ![]() ![]() "The bridge is broken in the middle, and part of it is carried away if you come on you'll be into the river." Just then the man at the toll-gate on the other side ran out of the house, tossing a torch about like one mad. "Come on, Beauty, what's the matter?" Of course I could not tell him, but I knew very well that the bridge was not safe. "There's something wrong, sir," said John, and he sprang out of the dog-cart and came to my head and looked all about. "Go on, Beauty," said my master, and he gave me a touch with the whip, but I dare not stir he gave me a sharp cut I jumped, but I dare not go forward. I dare not go forward, and I made a dead stop. We were going along at a good pace, but the moment my feet touched the first part of the bridge I felt sure there was something wrong. So back we went and round by the crossroads, but by the time we got to the bridge it was very nearly dark we could just see that the water was over the middle of it but as that happened sometimes when the floods were out, master did not stop. "Well, sir, we can't drive over that tree, nor yet get round it there will be nothing for it, but to go back to the four crossways, and that will be a good six miles before we get round to the wooden bridge again it will make us late, but the horse is fresh." "That was a very near touch," said my master. John jumped out and was in a moment at my head. I stopped still, and I believe I trembled of course I did not turn round or run away I was not brought up to that. I will never say I was not frightened, for I was. The words were scarcely out of his mouth when there was a groan, and a crack, and a splitting sound, and tearing, crashing down among the other trees came an oak, torn up by the roots, and it fell right across the road just before us. "Yes, sir," said John, "it would be rather awkward if one of these branches came down upon us." "I wish we were well out of this wood," said my master. ![]() The wind was then much higher, and I heard the master say to John that he had never been out in such a storm and so I thought, as we went along the skirts of a wood, where the great branches were swaying about like twigs, and the rushing sound was terrible. When we got to the town of course I had a good wait, but as the master's business engaged him a long time we did not start for home till rather late in the afternoon. Many of the meadows were under water, and in one low part of the road the water was halfway up to my knees the bottom was good, and master drove gently, so it was no matter. The man at the gate said the river was rising fast, and he feared it would be a bad night. The river banks were rather high, and the bridge, instead of rising, went across just level, so that in the middle, if the river was full, the water would be nearly up to the woodwork and planks but as there were good substantial rails on each side, people did not mind it. We went along merrily till we came to the toll-bar and the low wooden bridge. There had been a great deal of rain, and now the wind was very high and blew the dry leaves across the road in a shower. I always liked to go in the dog-cart, it was so light and the high wheels ran along so pleasantly. ![]() I was put into the dog-cart, and John went with his master. One day late in the autumn my master had a long journey to go on business. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today! The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |