# ■ 5 The storm

One day in the autumn my master had to go to a distant town on business． John harnessed me to the carriage and the three of us went off． There had been a lot of rain， and the wind was very strong．When we came to the river，the wa-ter was so high it nearly reached the wooden bridge，and many of the fields were under water． In one low part of the road the water was half-way up to my knees．

We got to the town and the master's business took a long time．It was late in the afternoon when we started back for home．The wind was much stronger，and as we drove through a wood，I heard my master say，'I've never been out in a storm as bad as this，John．'Indeed，I thought so too， hearing the ter-rible noise of that wild wind in the trees．

I wish we were out of this wood，'said my master．

Yes，sir，'agreed John．'We don't want one of those bran-ches coming down on top of us．'

But just as he finished speaking，there was a great noise of wood breaking， and a big tree came crashing down through the other smaller trees and fell across the road right in front of us！I was very frightened and I stopped immediately， but I didn't turn round or try to run away．John jumped out and quickly ran to my side．

What can we do now，John？'said my master．

We can't drive over the tree or get round it，sir，'said John．'We'll have to go back to the crossroads，and take the longer road round to the wooden bridge．It will make us late，but the horse isn't tired．'

It was nearly dark when we got to the wooden bridge．We could see water over the middle of it，but this often happened when the river was high．But the moment my feet touched the first part of the bridge，I was sure something was wrong，and I stopped suddenly．

Go on，Beauty，'said my master，and he touched me with the whip．I did not move， so he hit me sharply， but I would not go forward．

There's something wrong，'said John，and he jumped from the carriage and began to look round．He tried to lead me for-ward．'Come on，Beauty，what's the matter？'

Of course I could not tell him， but I knew the bridge was not safe．

Just then a man ran out of the house on the other side of the bridge．'Stop！Stop！'he cried．

What's the matter？'shouted my master．

The bridge is broken in the middle，'said the man，'and part of it was carried away．If you come across， you'll fall in the river！'

Thank you，Beauty！'John said to me， and turned me gently round to the right-hand road by the riverside．

It got darker and the wind got quieter as I trotted towards home by another，much longer road．The two men were quiet for some time， but then my master spoke．

We were very close to drowning in that river，John，'he said．'Men may be clever enough to think of things for them-selves，but animals know things without thinking，and that's often saved a man's life，as it has ours tonight．People don't realize how wonderful their animals are，nor do they make friends with them as they should．'

When we arrived back at Birtwick Park，the mistress ran out to meet us．'I've been so worried！'she said．'Are you all right？ Did you have an accident？'

We nearly did，'said my master．'But Black Beauty was cleverer than we were，and saved us all from drowning！'

* * *

One morning early in December，the master came to the stable with a letter in his hand，looking very serious．

Good morning，John，'he said．'Tell me，does James work hard and do what you tell him to do？'

Yes，sir， always，'replied John．

And he doesn't stop work when your back is turned？'

Never，sir．'

And if he goes out with the horses，does he stop to talk to friends，or go into houses where he has no business， leaving the horses outside？'said the master．

No，sir，'said John．'And if anybody has said that about James， I don't believe it．I never had a pleasanter， more honest young man in this stable．'

The master smiled and looked across at James，who was standing by the door．'James， I'm glad John's opinion of you agrees with my own，'he said．'I've had a letter from my wife's brother，Sir Clifford Williams． He wants me to find him an honest young groom who knows what he's doing．The man who drives his carriage is getting old and needs a young man who will work with him and be able to do his job one day．How old are you？'

Nineteen next May，sir，'said James．

That's young． What do you think，John？'

It is young， sir，'said John，'but he's tall and strong． He doesn't have much experience of driving，but he has a light touch and a quick eye．'

Well，James，'said the master，'talk to your mother at din-ner-time and let me know what you want to do．'

A few days later it was agreed that James would go to Clif-ford Hall in a month or six weeks，and for the next few weeks he drove the carriage．We went in and out of town，through busy streets， and to the railway station， where the road was narrow and there were lots of other carriages hurrying to and from the station．

Then my master and mistress decided to visit some friends who lived about seventy-five kilometres from our home．'You can drive us，James，'said my master．

■ 5 暴風雨

秋天的一天，主人因生意上的事得到遠處的鎮子上去一趟。約翰給我套上車，我們三個就上路了。雨下得很大，風也非常強勁。當我們來到河邊時，水已經快漲上了木橋，大片的田野都被水淹了。在路上地勢低窪的地方，水幾乎沒過了我的膝蓋。

我們到了鎮上，主人辦事用了好長時間。當我們往回趕時，已是快晚上了。風更緊了，當我們穿過一片樹林時，我聽見主人說：“我還沒在這麼大的暴風雨中外出過，約翰。”的確，我也這麼想呢，狂風在樹林間發出那麼可怕的呼嘯。

“我希望我們快點兒走出這片林子，”主人說。

“是啊，先生，”約翰附和說。“我們可不希望那些樹枝砸到頭上。”

他話音剛落，隨著一陣樹木折斷的巨響，一棵大樹砸過幾棵小點兒的樹，轟然倒地，橫在我們前面的路上！我嚇了一大跳，立刻收住腳，不過，我既沒有轉身，也沒有跑開。約翰跳出來飛跑到我身邊。

“現在怎麼辦，約翰？”主人說。

“我們沒法兒從這棵樹上過去，也繞不開，先生，”約翰說。“我們得到路口，繞遠兒走那座木橋。會晚一點兒到家，不過馬還不累。”

我們到木橋時，天將近全黑了。水已漫過了木橋的中段。河水上漲時，這是常有的事兒。但是我的蹄子一踏上橋，就覺得不對勁。我立刻收住了腳。

“走啊，黑駿馬，”主人說，他用鞭子碰碰我。我沒有走，他狠抽了我一下，但我還是不向前走。

“不對勁！”約翰說。他從車上跳下來四處打量。他試著牽著我向前走。“來啊，黑駿馬，怎麼了？”

我當然沒法兒告訴他。但是我知道這橋不安全。

這時橋那頭的屋子裡跑出來一個人。“站住！站住！”他喊著。

“怎麼回事？”我的主人喊道。

“橋中間斷了，”那人說，“有一部分被水沖走了，要是你們過來，會掉進水裡去的！”

“謝謝你，黑駿馬！”約翰對我說，輕輕地牽著我順著河邊右首的路走。

天色更暗了，當我順著另一條遠得多的路小跑回家時，風小些了。兩個男人靜默了一陣，然後主人開口了。

“我們只差一點兒就淹死在河裡了，約翰。”他說。“人們為自己考慮的時候挺聰明，可是，動物根本用不著考慮就能知道，這經常能救人一命，就像今晚救了我們！人們不知道他們的動物有多棒。本應和動物交朋友，可是他們沒有。”

到家了，女主人跑出來迎接我們。“我擔了好大的心！”她說，“你們都好嗎？沒出什麼事吧？”

“差點兒！”主人說，“但是黑駿馬比我們聰明，他使我們沒被淹死！”

* * *

12月初的一個清早，主人拿著一封信來到馬廄，表情嚴肅。

“早，約翰，”他說。“告訴我，詹姆斯工作認真嗎？他聽你吩咐嗎？”

“是啊，先生，他一直這樣。”約翰回答。

“你不在，他也不偷懶嗎？”

“從不，先生。”

“如果趕馬出去，他會停下來和朋友聊天，或是把馬丟在外面而他去亂串門兒嗎？”主人問。

“不，先生，”約翰說，“如果有人這麼說詹姆斯，我可不信。我在馬廄還沒碰到過他這麼令人愉快、誠實可靠的小夥子呢！”

主人微笑著看著正站在門邊的詹姆斯。“詹姆斯，我很高興約翰對你的看法和我的一致，”他說，“我太太的哥哥，柯立福德·威廉爵士來了封信，要我幫他找一名誠實可信的馬伕。他現在的馬伕年紀大了，需要找一個年輕人和他一道幹，而且得準備有一天接他的班。你多大了？”

“19歲，先生，”詹姆斯說。

“真年輕。你說呢，約翰？”

“是啊，先生，”約翰說，“可是他又高又壯。雖然還沒有多少趕車的經驗，但是他動作輕，眼神好。”

“好吧，詹姆斯，”主人說，“晚飯的時候和你媽媽談談，然後告訴我你的想法。”

幾天後商定詹姆斯在1個月或6個星期後去柯立福德府，所以接下來的幾周由他趕車。我們進城出城，穿過擁擠的街道，去道路狹窄的火車站，那條路上還有很多別的馬車匆匆忙忙地進站出站。

然後主人和太大決定去拜訪住在距家大概75公里的一些朋友。主人說：“你可以為我們趕車，詹姆斯。”