The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell

Author:Elyne Mitchell [Mitchell, Elyne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Horses
Publisher: Mayflower Books
Published: 2013-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

That night Thowra went to the hut again, stepping proudly through the dark forest before the moon had risen. Leaves brushed his shoulders and there was the lovely damp scent of the bush at night. He kept thinking of what Bel Bel would say to such a foolhardy expedition as this — and yet he knew she would understand. She was creamy herself and could appreciate how lovely the cream filly was. It was Storm who would really consider him a fool.

He kept watch for a long time from the edge of the trees, slightly surprised that Golden showed no sign of knowing he was there, but he had been even more silent than before, and Golden’s senses were not as sharp as a wild horse’s.

The fire and the lamp were both out in the hut, and all was quiet. He could see no man watching over the horses, and the horses were not hobbled. Still suspecting a trap, he came out of the trees slowly, thankful that the moon had not yet risen. He reached the fence, his skin pricking with nervousness, but nothing happened. The bay was sound asleep.

He measured up the fence again, and in the springtime surge of strength and spirits, he felt sure that he would be able to jump out and lead Golden away.

He backed off, speeded up as quietly as he could, and jumped.

‘Now, come on and follow me!’ he said to Golden.

The bay woke with a startled squeal. A man burst out of the hut, shouting:

‘Got you, my beauty!’

‘Come quick!’ said Thowra, and with only the very short run available in the yard, he took three strides and made a prodigious leap. His knees rapped the top rail, yet he still seemed to lift higher. A rope whistled and fell short. Thowra felt his heart almost bursting with fear and effort, but he was over! The other man was running with a rope, too.

Thowra swung wildly and felt it hit his flank. Golden called, but she was still in the yard. The first man had roped her, but Thowra did not know this. He called in answer, but she still did not come. He galloped towards the trees, hearing the men getting saddles and bridles. But a brumby stallion who knew the country would get a good start while they saddled up. He raced away towards the Cascades, taking the opposite direction to that in which his herd lay, the one the men might easily expect him to take.

Through the night he galloped, darkness like a. curtain around him. A white owl flew, crying, from a tree and he shied in sudden fear. He could hear the men close behind, so he branched off the track and down a rock gully; the men, when they found they could not easily capture him, soon gave up. The owner of Golden had no wish to lame her in a midnight brumby hunt, and anyway it was obvious that Golden might very well bait a trap for Thowra.

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