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Updated: May 3, 2025
As it was, when the three girls reached him, he was unconscious and it was plain by the attitude in which he lay that his leg was broken. "Poor Hunchie!" murmured Ida Bellethorne, "I hope it wasn't because he was surprised to see me that he fell." "His surprise did not make that timber slippery with ice," said Betty, looking up. "Oh! Here's a lady!"
I thought Hunchie was out of his head. How comes you are named after that horse, girl?" Ida explained her connection with the black mare and with Hunchie. "You'd better go in and talk to him. Maybe it will case his pain. But that shin bone is sticking right through the flesh of his leg. It's awful! And he's in terrible pain. If Bill don't come back soon "
Bolter hexpects me to give hundivided hattention to 'er." "She shall have the best of care," said Candace, the farmer, warmly. "A mare like her ought to be bedded down in roses. The way she took this little girl over the drifts was a caution. She is some horse, she is! We will give her the best of attention, Hunchie, never you fear."
It was well she had ventured for the doctor on the black mare, or poor Hunchie Slattery would have suffered much longer without medical attention. Bobby ran out to meet them when the sleigh came into the yard. Mrs. Candace stood at the back door explaining to the red-faced man, her husband. It was Bob who came to take the leading rein of the black mare from Betty's hand. "Cricky!" he exclaimed.
She thanked Hunchie Slattery, patted Ida Bellethorne's nose, and ran out of the stable. But her head was full of the mystery of the striking name of "Ida Bellethorne." She felt she must tell somebody, and Bobby of course, who was her very closest chum, must be the recipient of her story as the cavalcade started homeward.
The rope had evidently fouled in the block and he was trying to detach it. "That's Hunchie Slattery!" gasped Betty, "What a chance he is taking!" For everything was sheathed in ice from the effect of the rain and frost of the night before. That timber was as slippery as glass. Ida Bellethorne set off on a run for the barn; but unlike Bobby she did not say a word.
Ain't I saw you before, Miss?" said Hunchie, staring at Betty. "At Mr. Bolter's?" "Yes, yes!" cried Betty. "Can the mare travel on this hard snow?" "Yes, ma'am. I didn't draw the calks for I exercised 'er each d'y, I did. I didn't want 'er to fall. An' now I failed myself!" The two girls looked at each other significantly. Ida was easily led out of the room. Betty put the question to her.
The snow was melting all about, turning black and yellow in streaks. Betty did not know how long this would keep up; but every minute she delayed poor Hunchie paid for in continued suffering. "We must do it!" she shrieked to the horse. "You've got to there!" She whipped off her velvet hat and struck Ida Bellethorne again and again. The mare crouched, measured the distance, and leaped into the air.
She is quite wonderful," said Betty; and while they gave Ida Bellethorne the attention she needed Betty told the doctor all about Hunchie and her ride through the forest. When Dr. Pevy heard about the broken wires in the road, he went to the house and telephoned to the Cliffdale power house to tell them where the break was. The linemen were already searching for it.
Had she thought of any way to help the crooked little man, however, she was too late. Hunchie suddenly slipped, clutched vainly at the rope, which gave under his weight, and he came down "on the run." The rope undoubtedly broke his fall. He would have been killed had he plunged immediately to the frozen ground beneath.
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