Prince and Rover of Cloverfield Farm Part 11

John ran out to the well and brought a pail of water and threw it on the fire. Sue brought snow and put it on the fire.

All together they worked, and soon the fire stopped blazing and went out.

"If it had not been for Rover, the house might have burned down," said Farmer Hill.

"Rover is a good dog," said Mrs. Hill as she patted him.

"Good dog, good dog!" said John and Sue.

They gave Rover a nice warm blanket to lie on, and fixed the stove so it could not draw so hard.

Then the family went back to sleep.

Rover lay down on the blanket, but he did not go to sleep.

All that night he kept watch.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PRINCE USES HIS EYES]

XV

One day in summer Farmer Hill said at breakfast, "I must go to the city to-day. There are many things to do, but I'll be back before dark."

Then he hitched Prince to the carriage and started off along the road, down a long hill, over the little bridge at the foot of it, along miles of level road to the city.

All day he was going about his errands, while Prince stood in a stable and ate his dinner and rested.

Toward night, just as Farmer Hill was going to start home, a thunder storm came up. It thundered and lightened and rained and rained.

It rained so hard that the water ran in the street like a river.

Farmer Hill waited until the storm was over. By that time it was nearly dark.

There were no street lamps along the road.

There was no moon in the sky.

There were no stars in the sky.

It became so dark that Farmer Hill could not see more than three feet ahead.

"I shall have to let Prince see for me," said he.

Prince trotted along over the muddy road, now and then slowing up when he came to a pool of water, now and then turning out when they met another team.

Finally they had come back as far as the foot of the hill where the little bridge was.

"Now I shall soon be home," thought Farmer Hill.

Just then Prince stopped stock still.

"Get-up," said Farmer Hill. Prince did not go. "What is the matter?"

thought Farmer Hill.

He tried to look in front along the road, but could see nothing.

Just then a flash of lightning came and lighted up the country around for a moment.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "'Why! the bridge is gone!' said Farmer Hill"]

"Why! the bridge is gone!" said Farmer Hill.

Sure enough, the heavy rain had made the creek so high that it had swept away the little bridge.

"If your eyes had not been better than mine," said he to Prince, "we should have been thrown into the water."

Then he turned Prince around and went back along the road to the corner and took another road home.

At last, very late in the evening, they came to the farm.

"I am glad to be at home at last," thought Farmer Hill, as Prince turned in at the driveway.

Again Prince stopped.

"What is the matter now?" thought Farmer Hill. "Surely, there is no bridge gone here."

"Get-up," he said to Prince. But Prince did not go ahead; instead he backed.

It was so dark that Farmer Hill could not see the horse; he could not see the trees; he could not see the ground.

"Get-up," said Farmer Hill again.

Prince started forward; but this time he turned out and went on the gra.s.s at the side of the driveway.

"I wonder what can be the matter there," said Farmer Hill.

John and mother were waiting for father and came out on the back porch as they heard the wheels coming.

"We were afraid something had happened to you, it is so late," said mother.

Then father told them how the bridge was gone and how Prince had refused to go on.

"But I cannot understand," said he, "why he would not come into the yard by the driveway."

"I'll go and see," said John.