Chapter-11
My master, the Earl, and his lady had been out for many weeks. Mr. York had accompanied them. Till they were out, a man, called Reuben Smith, was the groom at our stable.
Reuben Smith was a kind-hearted man. He took good care of us and was also intelligent. But the only infirmity he attained was addiction to alcohol. If he did not drink, he won’t drink for days. But if he drank, he crossed all limits and then did not know what he was up to.
Mr. York hadn’t informed the master about this acute behaviour of Reuben and so he was recommended in the absence of Mr York.
Max narrated Reuben’s misfortune to me. He told me that Reuben used to pick up the ladies from the dance club to get them back, after he had got drunk. As a result, he couldn’t manage the rein. Then one day, a gentleman took his place. Thus Reuben had no job and his family had to leave the cottage that they had been provided with.
Since Reuben had promised not to touch the wine again, he was nominated by the master to look after us.
I myself encountered the consequences of drunk Reuben one day.
Reuben took me out one day, just a few days after the accident with Lady Anne. He left me at a stable called White Lion. Leaving me there, he ordered the owner to feed me and keep me ready to go till four o’clock.
But he didn’t return till four o’clock. Finally, he came at five and he again left saying, “I have to meet some friends and I’ll return at the next hour.”
“Sir, one of his shoe nails is loose. It needs to be fitted,” interrupted the lad as he was leaving. He replied he would see to it at Earlshall.
He went away and had to be absent for the next three hours. He returned at nine; he was poorly drunk. He put his shaking legs on the saddle. The owner of the inn asked him to be careful. He replied back and then urged me to move on. At his order, I was soon galloping. Soon we were out of town.
Not caring for my loose shoe, I kept galloping on the stony road. But it wasn’t long when my shoe came off. The stones hurt my bare feet so much that I wouldn’t have even tried to trot but the harsh whipping of the harsh rider, I was carrying, made me gallop all the way.
Eventually, my feet were wounded so badly that one of my hooves was split due to the sharp stones on the road.
It was unbearable. I was so uncomfortable that I stumbled on the ground and Smith fell far away from me. I was unable to move my leg and I myself couldn’t stir.
I wished someone could hear us mourning and help us out. But nobody came until midnight. Finally, a groom whose name was Robert, whom I recognized, saw me lying there. Smith was also there but motionless. He came up to see me. Looking at my hoof he remarked, “Poor thing! His hoof is worst. I wonder how he managed to run up till now. Where’s Smith?” He looked back to Smith, only to find him lying dead.
Both of us were taken back to Earlshall Park. When I was resting in my stable, Robert got me some corn and then dressed my wound. The doctor soon arrived at my stall. He deeply examined the injury, and properly dressed it. He instructed Robert to take care of me, and I could approve what he did.
It took me so long to recover. But when I was able to move, my leg and the bandage was thinner. I was allowed to go out in the field. It was so nice in the cool shade to breathe in the fresh air after being surrounded by the stinking smell of medicine. I hated it.
At first, I used to stroll alone on the field. But after some days, I found Ginger approaching me. I hadn’t seen him since. She was relieved from the bearing rein. The place where I was just now was the place for ill horses. The joy was no less. But then, I wondered if Ginger was well.
I questioned him, “What brings you here?”
“I am just fed up of going out hunting with Lord George, the Earl’s son. My conscience doesn’t allow me to endure so much of her work. Besides, I am not keeping good health. Now, they think I’m an unfit mare and have sent me here to rest. I feel my life completely ruined. You suffer due to a drunkard and I due to a mean fellow,” she said to me.
Soon, the Earl and the Countess returned from London. So, our departure was fixed. Although the Earl was very angry at our conditions yet he was much concerned about the loss of three hundred pounds which he had spent to buy us from Squire Gordon.
Ginger was kept back for twelve more months, while I was to be sold for sure, as my master said that he couldn’t allow an injured horse in his estate. York suggested the Earl about someone who lived in Bath. He said to the Earl, “Your Highness! I know a man in Bath. He has a good eye for horses. He often wants horses at good prices. Added to this, he takes care of his horses well. He has kept two well-trained grooms in his stable. I think Black Beauty will be happy and cheerful there.”
The Earl promptly said to Mr York, “Hurry up, Mr York. Do write to him today itself. Tell him about the distinguished features of Black Beauty. Also, ask him the price at which he would like to buy Black Beauty.”
After a few days, Robert came up to me in the stable and put a halter on my neck. Without a word he simply took me out of the stable. I couldn’t even bid farewell to Ginger, but she kept trotting along the stable while Robert was pulling me away.
That was all about my life at Earlshall.
