Now, many horses would have kicked and run, if such a thing had happened
to them. But even when Johnnie's grandmother screamed, old Ebenezer was
not at all frightened. And even when Johnnie cried "Whoa! whoa!" Ebenezer
did not stop. He thought he knew a good deal more about what he ought to
do than Johnnie Green did, for he had been pulling a wagon for almost
twenty years before Johnnie Green was born.
Johnnie tugged hard upon the reins. But still old Ebenezer went on
picking his way even more slowly. And he never stopped until he reached
the bottom of the hill. Then he stood stock still; and he looked around
at Johnnie Green, as if to say, "There, young man! I've brought you and
your grandma safe down that hill. And _now_ I'll let you get out of the
wagon, if you want to."
Well, Johnnie Green jumped down from his seat and looked at the harness.
"Dear me!" his grandmother said. "If we only had a piece of string you
could mend the harness so we could get to the miller's, at least."
Johnnie felt in all his pockets. And probably that was the first time he
had ever found himself without plenty of string.
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