II
To make your heart-strings crack
They start those awful voices o'nights
That whisper, . . ."
WHEN I awoke I could see out of the high window that the sun was shining, and I wanted very much to get out of the tool-house. I whined and whined, hoping somebody would hear me, and I was very sure that if my youngest Master could hear me, he at least would understand, but nobody came and it was so silent I grew more and more miserable, and being very hungry and frightened, I barked finally, just as loud as I could.
If there was any one to hear, they certainly did not understand, for nobody came to help me, and after a while when I was quite tired out with barking and scratching, I lay down to think what was best to be done. I suppose I slept again, for when I noticed once more, I could see from the look of the sunshine that it must be quite late in the day, and the only sound I could hear, though I listened with my ears at their very highest, was the humming of the bees around their hives in the garden.
I looked around me carefully for some way of escape, and noticing on the door the piece of iron which fastened it, and remembering that my little Master used to lift it when he wanted to get out, I wondered if I couldn't push it up with my nose. It was very high above my head, but as it seemed the only way, I determined to try, so again and again I jumped, and jumped, without the least success. I did not despair, however, but just decided to take a rest and then to gather all my strength for one big leap, so getting my legs under me and as near under the iron piece as I could, I made one grand effort and wonder of wonders! succeeded. The door opened a small crack and to push it wide was easy, but I did it slowly and with great caution, for I was filled with an anxiety and dread I could not understand, and put my head out to look around before I ventured any more. I could see that the garden was all trampled, but no one seemed to be near, so I came out slowly and smelled about, and found that horses and men both had been trampling the grass my oldest Mistress was so fond of, and had broken all the lovely flowers.