Black Beauty 黑骏马 Chapter 1 My first home The first place I can remember well was a pleasant field with a pond of clear water in it . Trees made shadows over the pond , and water plants grew at the deep end . On one side was another field , and on the other side we looked over a gate at our 's house , which stood by the roadside . At the top of our field were more tall trees , and at the bottom was a fast-running stream . While I was young , I lived on my mother's milk , but as soon as I was old enough to eat grass , my mother went out to work during the day and came back in the evening . There were six other young horses in me field , although they were older than I was . We all galloped together round the field , and had great fun . But sometimes the others would kick and bite . 'They are young farm horses and haven't learned how to behave , 'my mother told me . 'You are different . Your father is well known , and your grandfather twice won the most important race at Newmarket . Your grandmother was quiet and gentle , and you have never seen me kick or bite , have you ? I hope you will grow up to be gentle and a willing worker , and never bite or kick . ' I have never forgotten my mother's advice . She was a clever and sensible old horse . Her name was Duchess , but our often called her Pet . He was a good , kind man , and my mother loved him very much . Whenever she saw him at the gate , she trotted across . He used to pat her and say , 'Well , old Pet , and how is your little Darkie ? 'I was a dull black colour , so he called me Darkie . He sometimes brought a piece of bread for me , or a carrot for my mother , and I think we were his favourites . When I was two years old , something happened which I have never forgotten . It was early spring , and there was a light mist over the trees and fields . I and the other young horses were feeding at the lower end of the field when we heard the distant cry of dogs . The oldest among us lifted his head to listen . 'There are the hounds ! 'he said , and immediately raced off . The rest of us followed him to the top of the field , where we could see several fields beyond . My mother and another old horse were standing near . 'They've found a hare , 'said my mother , 'and if they come this way , we shall see the hunt . ' Soon the dogs were all racing down the field next to ours , a loud'yo-yo-yo-yo ! 'sound at the top of their voices . After them came men on horses , some in green coats , and all galloping as fast as they could . Suddenly , the dogs be-came silent and ran around with their noses to the ground . 'They've lost the smell of the hare , 'said the old horse . 'Perhaps it will escape . ' But the dogs began their'yo-yo-yo-yo ! 'again and came at full speed towards our field . Just then a hare , wild with fear , ran towards the trees . The dogs jumped over the stream and ran across the field , followed by the huntsmen . Six or eight jumped their horses over the stream , close behind the dogs . Be-fore the hare could get away , the dogs were upon her with wild cries . We heard a terrible scream , and that was the end of the hare . One of the men picked her up and held her by the leg . She was covered in blood , but all the huntsmen seemed pleased . I was so greatly surprised that at first I did not see what was happening by the stream , but when I did look , I saw a sad sight . Two fine horses were down , one in the stream and the other on the grass . One rider , who seemed unhurt , was climb-ing out of the water , but the other lay quite still . 'His neck is broken , 'said my mother . 'I can't understand why men are so fond of this sport . They quite often hurt them-selves and ruin good horses , all for one hare that they could get more easily some other way . But we are only horses , and don't know why men do these things . ' They carried the dead rider to our 's house , and I heard afterwards that it was George Gordon , the only son of a local landowner , and a fine young man . A man from the village came to look at the black horse on the grass . The animal was in great pain and one of his legs was broken . The man began to feel the horse all over , then he shook his head . Someone ran to our 's house and came back with a gun . Soon after , there was a loud bang and a terrible cry , then all was still . The black horse did not move again . My mother was very unhappy . 'I've known that horse for years , 'she said . 'His name was Rob Roy . He was a good brave horse . 'She never went near that end of the field again . Not many days after , we heard the church bell and saw a long , strange black carriage , pulled by black horses . they were taking the body of young George Gordon to the churchyard to bury him . He would never ride again . I never knew what they did with Rob Roy , but it was all for one little hare . Chapter 2 Birtwick Park I was beginning to grow handsome . My coat was fine and soft , and was a shiny black . I had one white foot , and a pretty white star on my forehead . When I was four years old , Mr Gordon came to look at me . He looked closely at my eyes , my mouth , and my legs , and then I had to walk and trot and gallop for him . 'When he has been trained , 'Mr Gordon said to my , 'he will do very well . ' My liked to train his horses himself before selling them , and the next day my training began . To train a horse is to teach him to wear a saddle , and to carry a man , woman or child on his back . The horse must also learn to wear a collar , and to stand still when it is put on ; then to have a carriage fixed behind him , and to go fast or slow , whichever his driver wishes . He must never bite or kick or talk to other horses , and must always do what his tells him , however tired or hungry he feels . Like all horses that have grown up , I had to wear a bit and bridle . A bit is a great piece of cold hard metal , as thick as a man's finger , which is pushed into a horse's mouth between his teeth and over his tongue , with the ends coming out at the corners . It is held there by straps which go over the horse's head , under his neck , round his nose and under his chin . Reins , which the rider holds , are fastened to each end of the bit . Slowly , with my 's kind words and gentle ways , I learned to wear my bit and bridle . Next there was the saddle . My put it on my back very gently , then fixed the straps under my body , speaking qui-etly to me all the time . Then one morning , he got on my back and rode me round the field on the soft grass . He did this every day until I was used to it . Then he took me to the village where a man fixed metal shoes on to each hoof . My feet felt heavy and strange , but I got used to this , too . There were more new things to wear . First , a heavy collar on my neck , and a bridle with great side pieces against my eyes , called blinkers . With these on , I could only see in front of me . But in time I got used to everything , and could do my work as well as my mother . For a fortnight , my sent me to a neighbour's farm for another kind of training , which was very useful to me . One field was next to the railway and had sheep and cows in it , and I was put in among them . I shall never forget the first train that thundered by , and how I galloped to the far side of the field , trembling with fear at this terrible noise . But after a few days I cared as little as the sheep and cows when a train passed by . It was early in May when a man came to take me away to Mr Gordon's house . My said , 'Goodbye , Darkie . Be a good horse , and always do your best . 'I put my nose into his hand and he patted me kindly , and then I left my first home . * * * Mr Gordon's house , which was called the Hall , stood in Birtwick Park , near the village . We went into the Park through a large gate , then trotted along a smooth road between some trees to the house and gardens . Beyond this were the stables . There was room for many horses and carriages . My stable had four good stalls and a large window . It was very pleasant . The first stall was called a loose box , where a horse is not tied up all the time but is free to move around as he likes . It is a great thing to have a loose box . The groom put me into it and gave me some oats . Then he patted me , spoke kindly , and went away . In the stall next to mine stood a little fat grey pony . 'Hello , 'I said . 'What is your name ? ' 'Merrylegs , 'he said , turning round . 'I'm very handsome . I carry the young ladies on my back , and sometimes I take Mrs Gordon out in one of the carriages . Are you going to live next to me in the box ? ' 'Yes , 'I said . 'Then I hope you are well-behaved , 'he said . 'I don't like anyone who bites . ' A horse's head looked over from the stall beyond . It was a tall brown mare , and she did not look pleased . 'So it's you who has turned me out of my bx , 'she said . 'I'm sorry , 'I said , 'but the man put me in here , so it is not my fault . I don't want to argue with anyone ; I just wish to live in peace . Later , Merrylegs told me about the tall brown mare . 'Ginger has a bad habit of biting people , 'he explained . 'One day , she bit James in the arm , and Miss Flora and Miss Jessie , the children , were afraid to come into the stable after that . If you don't bite , I hope they'll start to come again . ' I told him I never bit anything except grass and could not understand why Ginger bit people . 'No one was ever kind to her before she came here , 'said Merrylegs . 'John and James do all they can to please her , and our is never unkind . I'm twelve years old , and I know that there isn't a better place for a horse all round the country than this . John has been here four years and is the best groom there ever was . And you never saw a kinder stableboy than James . There was no reason for Ginger to bite anyone . It's her own fault that she did not st