the forward
ends of their stalls, turning on him startled, white-rimmed eyes. He
offered the dripping bucket only to the more quiet ones.

He worked his way down the long line that stood nearest the spigot, now
staggering and splashing as he lugged a full pail, now scampering back
happily with an empty one. And he was beside a stairway, and on the
point of taking in a drink to the horse stalled closest to the entrance,
when he heard several voices, the creak of doors, and footsteps. So he
paused, the bucket swinging from both hands, until half a dozen pairs of
shaggy legs appeared just above him. Then as the big hats were bobbing
into view, so that he knew his labors could be seen and appreciated, he
faced round with the pail and entered the stall.

The next moment there sounded a dull bang, followed by the loud ring of
tin, a breathless cry, and the swish of flying water--as Johnnie came
hurtling headlong out of the stall, the bucket preceding him, a shod
hoof in his immediate wake, and the contents of the pail showering in
all directions. There was a second bang also dull, as he landed against
the bottom step of the stairs at the very feet of the horrified men.

A chorus of cries went up. But Johnnie's voice was not a part of it.
Hurt, winded, and thoroughly scared, he lay in a little ragged heap, a
book thrusting up the big shirt here and there, so that he looked to
have broken not a few bones.

"That flea-bit mare!" charged One-Eye, dropping Johnnie's breakfast and
picking up the boy.

"Pore kid! . . . . And he was workin'! . . . . Is he hurt bad? . . . .
That ongrateful bronc'! . . . . Totin' the blamed thing water,
too!"--thus they sympathized with him as he swayed against One-Eye, who
was steadying him on his feet.

Breath and tears came at the same moment--the latter in spite of him.
But he wept in anger, in disappointment and chagrin and resentment,
rather than in pain. The books having now fallen into place in the pouch
of the shirt, it was evident there were no fractures.

"Shore of it," pronounced One-Eye. "I've felt him all over."

Furthermore, a book had undoubtedly received the full force of the
implanted hoof; and save for a darkening patch on Johnnie's left arm, he
was as good as ever, though slightly damp as to both spirits and
clothing. For it was his feelings that were the more injured. His
proffer of a drink had been repaid by an ignominious kick that had
landed upon him under the very eye