ONLY THE MARE. 229 



what had happened, and what I had heard, as he 

 examined the mare by the aid of a bull's-eye lantern. 

 He passed his hand very carefully over her, whilst I 

 looked on with anxious eyes. 



" She's knocked a bit of skin off here, you see." He 

 pointed to a place a little below her knee, and, drawing 

 a small box from his pocket, anointed the leg. " But 

 she's all right. All right, ain't you, old lady ? " he said, 

 patting her ; and his cheerful tone convinced me that 

 he was satisfied. " We'll lead her home. I'll go with 

 you, sir ; and it's easy to take means to prevent any 

 foul play to-night." 



When we reached home the doctor was there, and 

 pronounced that, with the exception of a slightly 

 sprained ankle, Nellie had sustained no injury. 



Rejoicing exceedingly, we proceeded to the stable; 

 Heathfield, who heard my story, and who was delighted 

 at the prospect of some fun, asking permission to . 

 accompany us. 



Collars had doubtless surveyed the premises carefully, 

 for he arrived about eleven o'clock, and clambered 

 quietly and skilfully into the hayloft above the stable, 

 after convincing himself that all was quiet inside. He 

 opened the trap-door, and down came a foot and leg, 

 feeling about to find a resting- place on the par- 

 tition which divided Little Lady's loose box from 

 the other stalls. Bertie and I took hold of the leg, 

 and assisted him down, to his intense astonishment ; 

 while Heathfield and a groom gave chase to, and ulti- 



