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〃Me no like his look； Massa Vincent； he debbie ob a hoss dat。〃
〃I don't think he has a nice temper； Jake； but people learn to
control their temper； and I don't see why horse shouldn't。 At any
rate we will have a try at it。 He looks as if he appreciates being
patted and spoken to already。 Of course if you treat a horse like a
savage he will become savage。 Now； stand out of the way。〃
Gathering the reins together； and placing one hand upon the
pommel； Vincent sprang into the saddle without touching the
stirrups； then he sat for a minute or two patting the horse's neck。
Wildfire； apparently disgusted at having allowed himself to be
mounted so suddenly； lashed out viciously two or three times； and
then refused to move。 For half an hour Vincent tried the effect of
patient coax…jug； but in vain。
〃Well； if you won't do it by fair means you must by foul；〃 Vincent
said at last； and sharply pricked him with his spurs。
Wildfire sprang into the air； and then began a desperate series of
efforts to rid himself of his rider； rearing and kicking in such quick
succession that he seemed half the time in the air。 Finding after
awhile that his efforts were unavailing； he subsided at last into
sulky immovability。 Again Vincent tried coaxing and patting； but
as no success attended these efforts； he again applied the spur
sharply。 This time the horse responded by springing forward like
an arrow from a bow； dashed at the top of his speed across the
inclosure； cleared the high fence without an effort； and then set off
across the country。
He had attempted to take the bit in his teeth； but with a sharp jerk
as he drove the spurs in； Vincent had defeated his intention。 He
now did not attempt to check or guide him； but keeping a light
hand on the reins let him go his own course。 Vincent knew that so
long as the horse was going full speed it could attempt no trick to
unseat him； and he therefore sat easily in his saddle。
For six miles Wildfire continued his course； clearing every
obstacle without abatement to his speed； and delighting his rider
with his power and jumping qualities。 Occasionally； only when
the course he was taking would have led him to obstacles
impossible for the best jumper to surmount； Vincent attempted to
put the slightest pressure upon one rein or the other； so as to direct
it to an easier point。
At the end of six miles the horse's speed began slightly to abate；
and Vincent； abstaining from the use of his spurs； pressed it with
his knees and spoke to it cheerfully urging it forward。 He now
from time to time bent forward and patted it； and for another six
miles kept it going at a speed almost as great as that at which it
had started Then he allowed it gradually to slacken its pace； until
at last first the gallop and then the trot ceased； and it broke into a
walk。
〃You have had a fine gallop； old fellow；〃 Vincent said； patting it；
〃and so have I。 There's been nothing for you to lose your temper
about； and the next road we come upon we will turn our face
homeward。 Half a dozen lessons like this； and then no doubt we
shall be good friends。〃
The journey home was performed at a walk； Vincent talking the
greater part of the time to the horse。 It took a good deal more than
six lessons before Wildfire would start without a preliminary
struggle with his master； but in the end kindness and patience
conquered。 Vincent often visited the horse in the stables； and；
taking with him an apple or some pieces of sugar； spent some time
there talk。 mg to and petting it。 He never carried a whip； and never
used the spurs except in forcing it to make its first start。
Had the horse been naturally ill…tempered Vincent would probably
have failed； but； as he happened afterward to learn； its first owner
had been a hot…tempered and passionate young planter； who；
instead of being patient with it； had beat it about the head； and so
rendered it restive and bad…tempered。 Had Vincent not laid aside
his whip before mounting it for the first time； he probably would
never have effected a cure。 It was the fact that the animal had no
longer a fear of his old enemy the whip as much as the general
course of kindness and good treatment that had effected the
change in his behavior。
It was just when Vincent had established a good under standing
between himself and Wildfire that he had the altercation with the
overseer； whom he found about to flog the young negro Dan。
Pearson had sent the lad half an hour before on a message to some
slaves at work at the other end of the estate； and had found him
sitting on the ground watching a tree in which he had discovered a
possum。 That Dan deserved punishment was undoubted。 He had at
present no regular employment upon the estate Jake； his father；
was head of the stables； and Dan had made himself useful in odd
jobs about the horses； and expected to become one of the regular
stable hands。 The overseer was of opinion that there were already
more negroes in the stable than could find employment； and had
urged upon Mrs。 Wingfield that one of the hands there and the boy
Dan should be sent out to the fields。 She； however； refused。
〃I know you are quite right； Jonas； in what you say。 But there were
always four hands in the stable in my father's time； and there
always have been up to now； and though I know they have an easy
time of it； I certainly should not like to send any of them out to the
fields。 As to Dan； we will think about it。 When his father was
about his age he used to lead my pony when I first took to riding；
and when there is a vacancy Dan must come into the stable。 I
could not think of sending him out as a field hand； in the first
place for his father's sake； but still more for that of Vincent。 Dan
used to be told off to see that he did not get into mischief when he
was a little boy； and he has run messages and been his special boy
since he came back。 Vincent wanted to have him as his regular
house servant； but it would have broken old Sam's heart if； after
being my father's boy and my husband's； another had taken his
place as Vincent's。〃
And so Dan had remained in the stable； but regarding Vincent as
his special master； carrying notes for him to his friends； or doing
any odd jobs he might require； and spending no small portion of
his time in sleep。 Thus he was an object of special dislike to the
overseer； in the first place because he had not succeeded in having
his way with regard to him； and in the second because he was a
useless hand； and the overseer loved to get as much work as
possible out of every one on the estate。 The message had been a
somewhat important one； as he wanted the slaves for some work
that was urgently required； and he lost his temper； or he would not
have done an act which would certainly bring him into collision
with Vincent。
He was well aware that the lad did not really like him； and that his
efforts