The Story of Freginald by Walter R. Brooks Read Free Book Online

forward.
    â€œStand where you are,” said the horse sharply. Then as they stopped again: “I done warned you, stranger. You’re headin’ into trouble.”
    Freginald would have gone back, for he didn’t see the sense of getting into a row. But lions aren’t used to being told by other animals what they can or can’t, do and Leo got mad.
    â€œLook,” he said, “there isn’t any rat-tailed old plow-dragger going to give me orders. Get out of the way, boy; we’re coming with our tails high.” And he bounded forward.
    The horse reared and struck with his forefeet, but Leo dodged and struck like a cat with a powerful paw that jolted the other animal’s jaw and made his teeth rattle. At that the horse turned and galloped off, neighing shrilly, and Freginald followed his friend out into the little clearing in front of the house.
    It was a big house with pillars across the front and had once been very imposing indeed; but now the porch sagged, the windows were all broken, and the wood, from which the paint had peeled off many years ago, was cracked and rotten. But they didn’t have time to examine it more closely. For from the fields behind the house and from the woods all about them came a great trampling and crashing, and then by twos and threes twenty or thirty animals came bounding toward them—lean brown pigs, big ferocious-looking dogs, heavy shaggy horses, and a herd of unkempt cattle with long, vicious horns, led by a tough old bull with red eyes.
    â€œH’m,” said Leo. “My mistake.”
    But they were surrounded before they could retreat.
    â€œInto the barn,” ordered the bull in a hoarse rumble. And the sharp horns herded them round the house and into the tumbledown barn. Leo protested and explained, but nobody paid any attention.

    â€œWell, I guess I spoke out of turn,” said Leo when the other animals had gone, leaving two unpleasant cows on guard. “But you can’t take that kind of thing from a horse!”
    â€œDid you see any people around the house?” Freginald asked.
    â€œWhy, now I come to think of it, I didn’t,” said Leo. “That’s funny. You don’t suppose these pirates could be living here alone?”
    â€œThere aren’t any curtains in the windows, or tools and things around the house,” Freginald said.
    â€œH’m,” said Leo. “That’s bad.”
    They both knew it was bad. When tame animals go wild they’re a great deal wilder and more ferocious I than any wild animals can possibly be. They talked it; over in undertones, but couldn’t think of any plan. It would be easy enough to break out of the barn, but it would take them some time and be a noisy business, and by that time all the horns and hoofs and teeth would be ready for them.
    â€œWe’ll just have to wait and see,” said Leo.
    They didn’t have to wait very long. Half an hour later the bull came to the door. “You,” he said, nodding to Freginald. “Come here.”
    Freginald stepped forward.
    â€œWhat’s he?” said the bull, looking toward Leo.
    â€œWho, Leo? He’s a lion.”
    â€œWhat’s that—some kind of dog?”
    â€œDog!” sputtered Leo. “Dog! Why, dye my hair! I’m head of the cat family and king of all the animals, that’s what I am.”
    â€œLook like a dog,” said the bull. “Silence!” he bellowed as Leo started to shout angrily. “Go on, bear. Why’d you come here?”
    He listened while Freginald explained. Then he blew thoughtfully through his nostrils. “Too bad,” he said. “Got nothing against you. But you’ll have to stay now.” Then he turned and lumbered away.

CHAPTER 6
    For the next hour the two prisoners were left alone. Leo paced back and forth, swishing his tail irritably and muttering angrily under his breath. Every time he came near the door