108 THE horse's rescue. 



have a chance to recover from the effect of this great 

 change. • 



His hind feet were not so hard, and it did not take 

 so long to soften his feet. After this hard day's work 

 for me and Mike, I got him in his stable and made him 

 as comfortable as I could by packing his feet with 

 clay (other packing would do as well, the object being 

 to keep his feet moist). Thus I left him and went to 

 my barn, where I had business "for more than half of 

 the night exercising, caring for, and watching the effect 

 of changes on horses, and the time it took to recover" 

 from the change. These horses were different from 

 Mike, which I will explain b}'' and by. It is morning. 

 I must go and see Mike. I was at the barn before 

 there was much stir in town. I found Mike in a bad 

 fix. The hostler was there. How is this? Some one 

 has been driving this horse, and has nearly driven him 

 off' his legs. He stood up on his toes, and could 

 hardly stand on his hind leg?. Tho hostler told me 

 Mike was out all night. Of course there was some 

 loud bugling. It could be heard ten rods at least. 

 This hard work is to be done all over again to get him 

 down on his heels. It will take me all dav, and it 

 did; besides, it has caused Mike unnecessary suffer- 

 ing. I pulled him out of tlie barn. I had got in the 

 middle of the street. Mike was hobbling upon h's 

 toes. Mr. Bennett, hearing the uproar, came to the 

 front door of the barn. 



"Doan, what is the matter with that horse?" 



" It is the change." 



" I don't like that kind of charge." 



'•I will have him all riglit by night. If you want 



