Daggett, gently slapping the reins.
Dolly responded by a single swift gesture of his tail which firmly
lashed the hated reminder of bondage to his hind quarters. Then
wickedly pretending that he was not aware of what had happened he
strolled to the side of the road nearest the hay field.
"Now, if he ain't gone and got his tail over the lines!" cried Mrs.
Daggett indignantly. "He's got more resistin' strength in that tail
of his'n--wonder if I can--"
She leaned over the dashboard and grasped the offending member with
both hands.
"You hang onto the lines, Lois, and give 'em a good jerk the minute I
loosen up his tail."
The subsequent failure of this attempt deflected the malicious Dolly
still further from the path of duty. A wheel cramped and lifted
perilously.
Miss Daggett squealed shrilly:
"He'll tip the buggy over--he'll tip the buggy over! For pity's sake,
Abby!"
Mrs. Daggett stepped briskly out of the vehicle and seized the
bridle.
"Ain't you ashamed?" she demanded sternly. "You loosen up that there
tail o' yourn this minute!"
"I got 'em!" announced Miss Daggett, triumphantly. "He loosened right
up."
She handed the recovered reins to her sister-in-law, and the two
ladies resumed their journey and their conversation.
"I never was so scared in all my life," stated Lois Daggett,
straightening her hat which had assumed a rakish angle over one ear.
"I should think you'd be afraid to drive such a horse, Abby. What in
creation would have happened to you if I hadn't been in the buggy?"
"As like as not he wouldn't have took a notion with his tail, Lois,
if I'd been driving him alone," hazarded Mrs.
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