THE horse's rescue. 109 



one hundred and fifty dollars come and get it, and let 

 me have the horse'' 



He walked away. The same process — soak, ruh^ 

 run, and tie to go through with again, all caused by 

 their not doing as they agreed. How do you like 

 reader, the business I am at work at? Let us stick. 

 Never give up the ship. I got Mike in the barn at 

 dark that night. He was down flat rest on his heels, 

 and his ankles were weak. I bandaged his ankles, 

 packed his feet, and left him again, and told them he 

 must have rest or they would have him down. The 

 next day T soaked his forward feet and spread them a 

 little. They had grown some. It had been nearly 

 three weeks, the foot flaring from top of wall down to 

 tread. If it was not ironed. I would be wider and 

 not wear off, which it could not for this reason : the 

 wear was on the shoe and not the hoof, and it was 

 ironed so it could not expand. What would be the 

 result if I did not spread his feet a little? The sole 

 would raise, he would be thrown oS. his base again, 

 according to the degree of change of which I have 

 already written. He has six nails on each side of 

 these shoes, put there on purpose for this operation. 

 Let us draw out two of these heel nails on both sides. 

 We have spread his feet and given them liberty. They 

 will spread with his weight if they are kept soft. Do 

 not get discouraged. With all of the hard work we 

 have done, he is not right yet. His toes on his for- 

 ward f^et have more lever. They have grown since 

 his shoes were set three weeks ago. Spreading his 

 feet at the heel will help him some, but that does not 

 shorten the lever by any means. To have him right 



