114 CAROLINE.

 

Jasper forms a plan. He attempts to induce the horse to swim.

 

 

«“ Never mind about that,” said Robin, “but tell on.”

“ When Jasper found,” continued Beechnut, “that Mr.
Weodman was not coming, he concluded. that it would
be best for him and the horse to go over to the island, so
he went on, with the bridle still in his mouth, to the
edge of the water, intending to lead the horse in. But
the horse had had enough of the river, and was afraid to
goin again. Jasper pulled with all his strength, but the
horse would not follow him.

“Then Jasper laid down the bridle and went round
behind the horse, and began to bark at his heels, to see
if he could not drive him in. But this did no good. The
horse knew very well that Jasper would not bite him,
and so went quietly to cropping the grass, leaving Jasper
to bark as much as he pleased.

“ Jasper, finding that he could not do anything with the
horse, finally concluded to leave him and to go himself
over to the island.

“Mr. Woodman was very glad to have his dog near
him again. He patted him on his head, praised him for
taking such good care of the horse, and then called him
round to a sunny corner among some rocks, where he
thought that they might both get dry.

“ But Jasper was not contented to remain there. He
very soon went away, and began to run about the woods
on the island, and along the shores, picking up sticks
and. pieces of wood and bringing them to Mr. Woodman.”

« What was that for? ” asked Phonny.

“For fuel, so that Mr. Woodman might make a fire,”
replied Beechnut. “ You see that Jasper had been in the
woods a great many times with his master, and had been
tramed to gather sticks to help build a fire; and thus