20 JUSTIN MORGAN 



worth bragging- about ! Now, if you could but speak 

 the human language, then, indeed, would I wave my tail 

 and meow, 'Hail, Master !' " 



True was abashed, but said : 



"Nay, my mother says speech is but a vain and doubt- 

 ful good, especially in women!" 



To this sally the cat had no reply, both he and Gipsey 

 had known women better than the yearling True. 



One day Silas brought a black lamb to the pasture, 

 who at once made friends with the colt. The two 

 romped and played together, much as human children 

 might. For the timid little creature True came to have 

 a deep attachment ; he liked the feel of the warm Httle 

 body against his leg. No doubt they exchanged ideas 

 about things of interest as they listened to the brook, 

 singing happily of woods and meadows through which 

 it had run on its way to the river. 



This sweet friendship lasted many days, but it was 

 destined to end in a tragedy — one that must be related 

 as it bore so directly upon the sudden awakening of some 

 of the traits in the colt's character. 



On the edge of a near-by forest there was a rude hut 

 in which dwelt a family of outlaws who lived on their 

 neighbors and left honest dealing to others. Round 

 about the countryside it was whispered they were 

 "Tories," and Gipsey told True the evil odor borne on 

 the breeze from that direction was sufficient assurance 

 that this was so ; the outlaws were, indeed, British, and 

 the wildest crew that ever stole a horse or fired a hay- 

 stack ! 



One day, as True stood wrapt in thought beside the 

 stream, admiring the courage that made it sing as hap- 

 pily in sunshine as in shadow, on dark days as on bright, 

 Black Baby, as the lamb was called, came from the 

 other side of the pasture and rubbed against his leg. 



