Black Beauty (5)

(5) A stormy day

One late autumn day, my master and John had to go on a long journey on business.

I was put into the dog-cart, which I always enjoyed.

We went along merrily until we came to a low wooden bridge.

The river banks were rather high, and the bridge, instead of rising in the middle, went across straight and level.

That meant that if the river was full, the water would be nearly up to the wooden planks.

Master had to pay at the toll-gate before wecould cross.

The man there said that the river was rising fast, and he feared it would be a bad night.

We started for home late in the afternoon.

By then the wind was blowing so hard that a big tree crashed to the ground beside the road.

I heard the master say to John he had never been out in such a storm.

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