Jane and Neddy ran, but the horse kept up, and by his acts threatening every moment to kill them.  But, angry as the old fellow was, he did not really intend to harm the children, who at length reached the fence toward which they were flying.  Jane got safely over, but just as Neddy was creeping through the bars, the horse caught hold of his loose coat, with his teeth, and pulled him back into the field, where he turned him over and over on the grass with his nose for half a dozen times, but without harming him in the least, and then let him go, and went trotting back to the cool, shady place under the old walnut tree, from which the switch of the thoughtless boy had aroused him.

Neddy, you may be sure, was dreadfully frightened, and went crying home.  On the next day, when they came to the field in which Ned lived at his ease and enjoyed himself, the old horse was grazing in a far-off corner, and the children thought they might safely venture to cross over.  But they had only gained half the distance, when Ned espied them, and, with a loud neigh, gave chase at full gallop.  The children ran, in great alarm, for the fence, and got through, safely, before the horse came up.

After this, whenever they ventured to cross the field, Ned would interfere.  Once he got Neddy’s hat in his mouth, and ran off with it.  But he didn’t harm it any, and after keeping the children waiting at the fence for about half an hour, came and threw it over; after which he kicked up both his heels in a defiant manner, and giving a “horse laugh,” scampered away as if a locomotive were after him.

At last Neddy’s father complained to Farmer Jones of the way in which his old horse was annoying the children, who had to pass through the field, as they went to school, or else be compelled to go a long distance out of their way.  The farmer inquired the cause of Ned’s strange conduct, and learned that the little boy cut him across the shoulders with a willow switch.

“Ho! ho!” said he, “that’s the trouble, is it?  Ned won’t bear a stroke from any one.  But I will make up the matter between him and the children.  So let them stop here on their way from school this evening.”

The children stopped accordingly.  Ned was standing in the barn-yard, the very picture of demure innocence.  But when he saw little Neddy and his sister, he pricked up his ears, shook his head, and neighed.

“Come, come, old boy!” said the farmer, “we’ve had enough of that.  You must learn to forgive and forget.  The little fellow was only playing with you.”

Ned appeared to understand his master, for he looked a little ashamed of himself, and let his pointed ears fall back again to their old places.

“Now, my little fellows,” said Farmer Jones, “take up a handful of that sweet new hay, and call him to the bars.”

“I’m afraid,” returned Neddy.  “He’ll bite me.”

“Not he.  Why the old horse wouldn’t harm a hair of your head.  He was only trying to frighten you as a punishment for the stroke you gave him.  Come.  Now’s your time to make friends.”