Chapter-7
When James was still with us, the Squire and Mrs Gordon made plans to visit some of their friends who lived forty-six miles off Birtwick. James was asked to lead us through the way.
We started our journey next day. Ginger and I were harnessed for the job. We had to canter thirty-two miles on that day.
While the sun was down, we stopped at a hotel for rest. We had to start again the next morning and cover the rest of the distance.
At the hotel, Ginger and I were led to a stable with many stalls. We were being unharnessed. Out of eight stalls, three were already occupied. We were led into one of them. Two other men came to wash and feed us. James stood aside while we were being rubbed and washed. The senior of the two attendants was quite active. Soon we had taken a bath.
James was amazed at the performance of the ostler. The ostler said, “Son, it’s a practice of forty years. Practice is required for perfection.”
Then he narrated his life-history. When he had finished with it, he asked about me and Ginger, “Who is their owner?”
“Their owner is the Squire who lives in Birtwick Park. He has a good eye for horses, probably the best. He can’t see his horses in bad mood,” replied James.
The ostler knew my master. He memorized, “Yes, he is one of the best horse-riders.”
James replied, “Yes, but he seldom rides now, since his son died of an accident.”
I remembered the day when Rob Roy and Gordon tumbled down-hill and the black carriages took them to the churchyard. My mother was filled with sorrow. The dreadful fact was that I wasn’t aware of the fact that Rob Roy was my brother.
Finally, we settled down. As the ostler was leaving, another young man led a horse in one of the stalls and began giving him a bath. Just then, another man entered the stable with a smoking pipe in his mouth. That ostler ordered him to get to the loft and bring some hay for that horse. “Be careful of your pipe! The hay may catch fire,” he said. He continued and then left the stable. Later, James came in for us. Finding us sleepy, he locked the door and went out.
Soon afterwards, I was asleep. Suddenly, I felt some difficulty in breathing. When I opened my eyes, I saw there was smoke all around. There was immense chaos in the stable and I heard Ginger coughing.
Suddenly, the old ostler came running into the stable giving an alarm of fire that had broken out inside the stable.
I saw James approaching me and was much relieved. He held me with the bridle and led me out of the stable.
The ostler was unable to reach the other horses after he had rescued one of them, because of huge hot flames arising from the hay. The fire had spread all over the stable.
When we were out, James asked a groom there to lead me out. The scenario was quite scary, so I kept whining till James was again inside the stable to get Ginger out. There was a hue and cry all around.
In such confused moment, I missed James and Ginger who were still inside the lit-up stable. The carriages from the yard were also pushed out and they banged, causing much more chaos.
Soon, everybody was acquainted with the devouring fire. They made even more noise and created even more confusion around.
But I was only concerned about James and Ginger. My eyes were glued to the door of the stable.
I could see the blazing light inside. The sound of the crashing down of the stalls reached my ear and made me more worried about my caretaker and my sweetest friend.
Just then, James and Ginger came out rushing through the smoke. It was so relieving to see them both escaping out of the heinous fire.
After all was settled, Ginger told me that she heard me whining. Thus she was bold enough to follow James out of the stable.
It was a hair-raising experience, and its memories shook me to the nerves.
