ONLY THE MARE 149 



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 games to-night." 



When we reached home the doctor was there, 

 and pronounced that, with the exception of a sprained 

 ankle, Xelly had sustained no injury. 



Eejoicing exceedingly, we proceeded to the stable; 

 Heathfield, who heard my story, and who was de- 

 lighted 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 hay- 

 loft 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 partition which divided Little 

 Lady's loose box from the other stalls. Bertie and 

 I took hold of the leg, and assisted him down, to 

 I L 



