horse desperately then gallop-gallop-gallop! But that finished them, because the back and front legs didn"t gallop together, got entangled and down went the horse! The farmer ran up in alarm, thinking that his horse had fal en.
„Take your knee out of my mouth," mumbled an angry voice, and the farmer stopped suddenly, astounded to hear a human voice coming from the horse. Then he realized what was happening - it was the stage horse with two people in it! Who? It sounded like Julian and Dick. He gave the horse a gentle kick.
„Don"t," said Dick"s voice. „For goodness" sake whoever it is, un-zip us! We"re suffocating!"
The farmer let out a terrific guffaw, bent down and felt for the zip. One good pul and the horse"s canvas skin came in half as the zip was undone.
The boys clambered out thankfully. „Oh - er - thanks awful y, Mr Penruthlan," said Julian, rather embarrassed. „We - er - we were just having a canter round."
Mr Penruthlan gave another hearty roar and went off towards the kitchen to finish his meal. Dick and Julian felt very thankful. They carried the legs and head of the horse cautiously towards the barn. They peeped in at a window. The Guv"nor was there, striding up and down, looking extremely angry.
Julian waited til he was at the far end of the barn, and then hurriedly pushed the legs and head in at the door, as quietly as he could. When the Guv"nor turned round to stride angrily back the first thing he saw was the bundle that was Clopper! He raced over to it at once, and looked out of the door.
But Julian and Dick had gone. They could own up the next day when things were not quite so exciting! They slid quietly into the kitchen, feeling hot and untidy, hoping that nobody would notice them.
George and Anne saw them at once. George came over. „What have you been doing?
You"ve been ages and ages. Do you want any more to eat before everything is finished up?"
„Tell you everything afterwards," said Julian. „Yes, we do want something to eat. I"ve hardly had a thing yet. I"m starving!"
Mr Penruthlan was back in his place eating again. He pointed with his knife at the boys sliding into their seats. „Ock-ock-oo," he said, beginning to laugh, and added a few more equally puzzling words.
„Oh, they"ve been to help you catch the horse that peeped in at the window, have they?" said Mrs Penruthlan, nodding. „Which horse was it?"
„Clopper!" said the farmer, quite clearly, and gave a loud guffaw again. Nobody understood what he meant, so nothing more was said. George and Anne guessed, though, and grinned at the two boys.
It was a wonderful evening altogether, and everyone was sorry that it had to come to an end. The vil age women and the two girls stacked the dirty dishes and plates and the boys carried them to the sink to be washed. The Barnies gave a hand where they could, and the big kitchen was ful of chatter and laughter. It was very pleasant indeed.
But at last the kitchen was empty again, and the big lamp turned out. The vil age women went home, the Barnies departed. Old Grandad took Yan"s hand and went back to his sheep, saying doleful y that he"d „et a mort too much and wouldn"t be able to sleep a wink, so he wouldn"t."
„Never mind. It was worth it, Grandad," said Mrs Penruthlan, and shut and locked the kitchen door. She looked round, tired but happy. There was nothing she liked better than to spend hours upon hours preparing delicious dishes for people and then see them eaten in no time at al ! The children thought she was truly wonderful.
They were soon al in bed and asleep. The Penruthlans were asleep, too. Only the kitchen cat was awake, watching for mice in the kitchen. She didn"t like a crowd. She liked the kitchen to herself!
Next day was fair and warm, though a stiff breeze stil blew. Mrs Penruthlan spoke to the four children at breakfast-time.
„I"l be busy today cleaning up the mess. How would you like to take a picnic lunch of some of the remains of the supper and
„Take your knee out of my mouth," mumbled an angry voice, and the farmer stopped suddenly, astounded to hear a human voice coming from the horse. Then he realized what was happening - it was the stage horse with two people in it! Who? It sounded like Julian and Dick. He gave the horse a gentle kick.
„Don"t," said Dick"s voice. „For goodness" sake whoever it is, un-zip us! We"re suffocating!"
The farmer let out a terrific guffaw, bent down and felt for the zip. One good pul and the horse"s canvas skin came in half as the zip was undone.
The boys clambered out thankfully. „Oh - er - thanks awful y, Mr Penruthlan," said Julian, rather embarrassed. „We - er - we were just having a canter round."
Mr Penruthlan gave another hearty roar and went off towards the kitchen to finish his meal. Dick and Julian felt very thankful. They carried the legs and head of the horse cautiously towards the barn. They peeped in at a window. The Guv"nor was there, striding up and down, looking extremely angry.
Julian waited til he was at the far end of the barn, and then hurriedly pushed the legs and head in at the door, as quietly as he could. When the Guv"nor turned round to stride angrily back the first thing he saw was the bundle that was Clopper! He raced over to it at once, and looked out of the door.
But Julian and Dick had gone. They could own up the next day when things were not quite so exciting! They slid quietly into the kitchen, feeling hot and untidy, hoping that nobody would notice them.
George and Anne saw them at once. George came over. „What have you been doing?
You"ve been ages and ages. Do you want any more to eat before everything is finished up?"
„Tell you everything afterwards," said Julian. „Yes, we do want something to eat. I"ve hardly had a thing yet. I"m starving!"
Mr Penruthlan was back in his place eating again. He pointed with his knife at the boys sliding into their seats. „Ock-ock-oo," he said, beginning to laugh, and added a few more equally puzzling words.
„Oh, they"ve been to help you catch the horse that peeped in at the window, have they?" said Mrs Penruthlan, nodding. „Which horse was it?"
„Clopper!" said the farmer, quite clearly, and gave a loud guffaw again. Nobody understood what he meant, so nothing more was said. George and Anne guessed, though, and grinned at the two boys.
It was a wonderful evening altogether, and everyone was sorry that it had to come to an end. The vil age women and the two girls stacked the dirty dishes and plates and the boys carried them to the sink to be washed. The Barnies gave a hand where they could, and the big kitchen was ful of chatter and laughter. It was very pleasant indeed.
But at last the kitchen was empty again, and the big lamp turned out. The vil age women went home, the Barnies departed. Old Grandad took Yan"s hand and went back to his sheep, saying doleful y that he"d „et a mort too much and wouldn"t be able to sleep a wink, so he wouldn"t."
„Never mind. It was worth it, Grandad," said Mrs Penruthlan, and shut and locked the kitchen door. She looked round, tired but happy. There was nothing she liked better than to spend hours upon hours preparing delicious dishes for people and then see them eaten in no time at al ! The children thought she was truly wonderful.
They were soon al in bed and asleep. The Penruthlans were asleep, too. Only the kitchen cat was awake, watching for mice in the kitchen. She didn"t like a crowd. She liked the kitchen to herself!
Next day was fair and warm, though a stiff breeze stil blew. Mrs Penruthlan spoke to the four children at breakfast-time.
„I"l be busy today cleaning up the mess. How would you like to take a picnic lunch of some of the remains of the supper and
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