DOLLY'S DAY OFF 



caught him instead. I led him to the stable door 

 and started him in and then turned to head off his 

 mother, who had started towards the lane. Instant- 

 ly she squealed and started towards the road with 

 the yearling at her heels. The two-year-old heard 

 her and popped out of the stable. 



A moment later the three of them were off towards 

 the road, where the gate had been left open on ac- 

 count of the snowdrifts. Not suspecting anything 

 more than an ordinary frolic, I stood by the stable 

 and whistled for them and called, "Cob Dolly" in my 

 most seductive tones. But it was useless. When 

 they reached the road they rushed north until 

 checked by the drifts. Then they stopped, wheeled 

 round and rushed south, passing the gate as if they 

 had no interest in it. Before reaching the corner 

 they slowed up. I whistled coaxingly and they 

 stopped to look back. At this critical point a man 

 with a horse and buggy turned the corner and 

 started south. At once the three truants started 

 after him, Dolly in the lead, with her tail in the air. 

 I watched until they were almost a mile away, and 

 then harnessed the other horse, conscripted a boy 

 into active service and started in pursuit of the run- 

 aways. By the time we reached the road they were 



149 



