THE HORSES RESCUE. 227 



firrlvcd at my father's house. This is where I always 

 found welcome. AYelcome was always around iiiei-e 

 to his children, of which lie had not a few. Tnere 

 were eleven boys and two girls, scattered all over the 

 country. These arrivals were no surprise to him. It 

 was a common thing for some of them to sail into this 

 port days and all times of the night. Sometimes four 

 and five would be in this port at one lime, to rest up 

 and repair up wrecks, and it was all free. Reader, I 

 assure you it took some hard knocks and some hard 

 work to keep this free port open. I have sailed into 

 this port to repair up many wrecks, sailing over these 

 hills with wagons and horses. They would happen in 

 some way with all I could do to prevenr. When we 

 arrived this time he soon saw there was another wreck. 

 He was out flying around (he was no sit-still), strip- 

 ping the harness off the horses. 



" Gerard has got his thumb in his mouth. That is 

 a sure sign things are not going to suit him." 



'•Father, this pony has come this long journey, and 

 drawn heavy loads. She is growing worse all the 

 time, and I have not been able to find the cause ; il 

 commenced the first day. If I had some shoeing tools 

 I would take off her shoe and give her foot a thorough 

 examination." 



"Those can be had." 



Frank was started for the tools on a run. Beach's 

 horses were cleaned and turned out in a shady pasture.' 

 Frank soon came with the tools. I removed the shoe, 

 and commenced this search by paring thin shavings 

 off the sole of the foot. I soon saw the cause of 

 all this trouble. There was a row of nearly square 



