One day in summer Farmer Hill said at breakfast, "I must go to the city to-day. There are many things to do, but I'll be back before dark."

Then he hitched Prince to the carriage and started off along the road, down a long hill, over the little bridge at the foot of it, along miles of level road to the city.

All day he was going about his errands, while Prince stood in a stable and ate his dinner and rested.

Toward night, just as Farmer Hill was going to start home, a thunder storm came up. It thundered and lightened and rained and rained.

It rained so hard that the water ran in the street like a river.

Farmer Hill waited until the storm was over. By that time it was nearly dark.

There were no street lamps along the road.

There was no moon in the sky.

There were no stars in the sky.

It became so dark that Farmer Hill could not see more than three feet ahead.

"I shall have to let Prince see for me," said he.

Prince trotted along over the muddy road, now and then slowing up when he came to a pool of water, now and then turning out when they met another team.

Finally they had come back as far as the foot of the hill where the little bridge was.

"Now I shall soon be home," thought Farmer Hill.

Just then Prince stopped stock still.

"Get-up," said Farmer Hill. Prince did not go. "What is the matter?" thought Farmer Hill.

He tried to look in front along the road, but could see nothing.

Just then a flash of lightning came and lighted up the country around for a moment.

"Why! the bridge is gone!" said Farmer Hill.

Sure enough, the heavy rain had made the creek so high that it had swept away the little bridge.

"If your eyes had not been better than mine," said he to Prince, "we should have been thrown into the water."

Then he turned Prince around and went back along the road to the corner and took another road home.

At last, very late in the evening, they came to the farm.

"I am glad to be at home at last," thought Farmer Hill, as Prince turned in at the driveway.

Again Prince stopped.

"What is the matter now?" thought Farmer Hill. "Surely, there is no bridge gone here."

"Get-up," he said to Prince. But Prince did not go ahead; instead he backed.

It was so dark that Farmer Hill could not see the horse; he could not see the trees; he could not see the ground.

"Get-up," said Farmer Hill again.

Prince started forward; but this time he turned out and went on the grass at the side of the driveway.

"I wonder what can be the matter there," said Farmer Hill.

John and mother were waiting for father and came out on the back porch as they heard the wheels coming.

"We were afraid something had happened to you, it is so late," said mother.

Then father told them how the bridge was gone and how Prince had refused to go on.

"But I cannot understand," said he, "why he would not come into the yard by the driveway."

"I'll go and see," said John.

John took the lantern and went down toward the road.

In a moment he came running back.

"Come here," he called. "That big flash of lightning must have struck here. There is a great hole in the ground."

All ran to look.

There in the driveway was a deep hole with the gravel and earth and big stones thrown about in all directions.

"And Prince could see that in the dark!" said father. "Twice he saved me from harm."

"He has wonderful eyes," said mother, "and he used them well."

"I shall give him some extra oats and a lump of sugar," said John.

THE END