Part I 01 My I Early Home The first place that I I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it . Some shady trees leaned over it , and rushes and water - lilies grew at the deep end . Over the hedge on one side we looked into a plowed field , and on the other we looked over a gate at our my master master 's house , which stood by the roadside ; at the top of the meadow was a grove of fir trees , and at the bottom a running brook overhung by a steep bank . While I I was young I I lived upon my I mother 's milk , as I I could not eat grass . In the daytime I I ran by her side , and at night I I lay down close by her . When it was hot we used to stand by the pond in the shade of the trees , and when it was cold we had a nice warm shed near the grove . As soon as I I was old enough to eat grass my I mother used to go out to work in the daytime , and come back in the evening . There were six six young colts young colts in the meadow besides me I ; they six young colts were older than I I was ; some were nearly as large as grown - up horses . I I used to run with them six young colts , and had great fun ; we used to gallop all together round and round the field as hard as we could go . Sometimes we had rather rough play , for they six young colts would frequently bite and kick as well as gallop . One day , when there was a good deal of kicking , my Duchess I mother whinnied to me I to come to her Duchess , and then she Duchess said : " I Duchess wish you I to pay attention to what I Duchess am going to say to you I . The six young colts colts who live here are very good colts , but they six young colts are cart - horse colts , and of course they six young colts have not learned manners . You I have been well - bred and well - born ; your my master I father has a great name in these parts , and your my master I grandfather won the cup two years at the Newmarket races ; your Duchess I grandmother had the sweetest temper of any horse I Duchess ever knew , and I Duchess think you I have never seen me Duchess kick or bite . I Duchess hope you I will grow up gentle and good , and never learn bad ways ; do your I work with a good will , lift your I feet up well when you I trot , and never bite or kick even in play . " I I have never forgotten my Duchess I mother 's advice ; I I knew she Duchess was a wise old horse , and our my master master thought a great deal of her Duchess . Her Duchess name was Duchess Duchess , but he my master often called her Duchess Pet Duchess . Our my master master was a good , kind man . He my master gave us good food , good lodging , and kind words ; he my master spoke as kindly to us as he my master did to his my master little children . We were all fond of him my master , and my Duchess I mother loved him my master very much . When she Duchess saw him my master at the gate she Duchess would neigh with joy , and trot up to him my master . He my master would pat and stroke her Duchess and say , " Well , old Duchess Pet , and how is your Duchess little Darkie ? " I I was a dull black , so he my master called me I Darkie ; then he my master would give me I a piece of bread , which was very good , and sometimes he my master brought a carrot for my Duchess I mother . All the horses would come to him my master , but I I think we were his my master favorites . My Duchess I mother always took him my master to the town on a market day in a light gig . There was a Dick plowboy , Dick Dick , who sometimes came into our field to pluck blackberries from the hedge . When he Dick had eaten all he Dick wanted he Dick would have what he Dick called fun with the colts , throwing stones and sticks at them to make them gallop . We did not much mind him Dick , for we could gallop off ; but sometimes a stone would hit and hurt us . One day he Dick was at this game , and did not know that the my master master was in the next field ; but he my master was there , watching what was going on ; over the hedge he my master jumped in a snap , and catching Dick Dick by the arm , he my master gave him Dick such a box on the ear as made him Dick roar with the pain and surprise . As soon as we saw the my master master we trotted up nearer to see what went on . " Bad Dick boy ! " he my master said , " bad Dick boy ! to chase the colts . This is not the first time , nor the second , but it shall be the last . There -- take your Dick money and go home ; I my master shall not want you Dick on my my master farm again . " So we never saw Dick Dick any more . Old Daniel , the man who looked after the horses , was just as gentle as our my master master , so we were well off . 02 The Hunt Before I I was two years old a circumstance happened which I I have never forgotten . It was early in the spring ; there had been a little frost in the night , and a light mist still hung over the woods and meadows . I I and the other colts were feeding at the lower part of the field when we heard , quite in the distance , what sounded like the cry of dogs . The oldest of the colts raised his head , pricked his ears , and said , " There are the hounds ! " and immediately cantered off , followed by the rest of us to the upper part of the field , where we could look over the hedge and see several fields beyond . My Duchess I mother and an old riding horse of our my master master 's were also standing near , and seemed to know all about it . " They have found a hare , " said my Duchess I mother , " and if they come this way we shall see the hunt . " And soon the dogs were all tearing down the field of young wheat next to ours . I I never heard such a noise as they made . They did not bark , nor howl , nor whine , but kept on a " yo ! yo , o , o ! yo ! yo , o , o ! " at the top of their voices . After them came a number of men on horseback , some of them in green coats , all galloping as fast as they could . The old horse snorted and looked eagerly after them , and we young colts wanted to be galloping with them , but they were soon away into the fields lower down ; here it seemed as if they had come to a stand ; the dogs left off barking , and ran about every way with their noses to the ground . " They have lost the scent , " said the old horse ; " perhaps the hare will get off . " " What hare ? " I I said . " Oh ! I Duchess do n't know what hare ; likely enough it may be one of our own hares out of the woods ; any hare they can find will do for the dogs and men to run after ; " and before long the dogs began their " yo ! yo , o , o ! " again , and back they came altogether at full speed , making straight for our meadow at the part where the high bank and hedge overhang the brook . " Now we shall see the hare , " said my Duchess I mother ; and just then a hare wild with fright rushed by and made for the woods . On came the dogs ; they burst over the bank , leaped the stream , and came dashing across the field followed by the huntsmen . Six or eight men leaped their horses clean over , close upon the dogs . The hare tried to get through the fence ; it was too thick , and she turned sharp round to make for the road , but it was too late ; the dogs were upon her with their wild cries ; we heard one shriek , and that was the end of her . One of the huntsmen rode up and whipped off the dogs , who would soon have torn her to pieces . He held her up by the leg torn and bleeding , and all the gentlemen seemed well pleased . As for me I , I I was so astonished that I I did not at first see what was going on by the brook ; but when I I did look there was a sad sight ; two fine horses were down , one was struggling in the stream , and the other was groaning on the grass . One of the riders was getting out of the water covered with mud , the other lay quite still . " His neck is broke , " said my Duchess I mother . " And serve him right , too , " said one of the colts . I I thought the same , but my Duchess I mother did not join with us . " Well , no , " she Duchess said , " you must not say that ; but though I Duchess am an old horse , and have seen and heard a great deal , I Duchess never yet could make out why men are so fond of this sport ; they often hurt themselves , often spoil good horses , and tear up the fields , and all for a hare or a fox , or a stag , that they could get more easily some other way ; but we are only horses , and do n't know . " While my Duchess I mother was saying this we stood and looked on . Many of the riders had gone to the young man ; but my my master I master , who had been watching what was going on , was the first to raise him . His head fell back and his arms hung down , and every one looked very serious . There was no noise now ; even the dogs were quiet , and seemed to know that something was wrong . They carried him to our my master master 's house . I I heard afterward that it was young George Gordon , the squire 's only son , a fine , tall young man , and the pride of his family . There was now riding off in all directions to the doctor 's , to the farrier 's , and no doubt to Squire Gordon 's , to let him know about his son . When Mr. Bond , the farrier , came to look at the black horse that lay groaning on the grass , he felt him all over , and shook his head ; one of his legs was broken . Then some one ran to our my master master 's house and came back with a gun ; presently there was a loud bang and a dreadful shriek , and then all was still ; the black horse moved no more . My Duchess I mother seemed much troubled ; she Duchess said she Duchess had known that horse for years , and that his name was " Rob Roy " ; he was a good horse , and there was no vice in him . She Duchess never would go to that part of the field afterward .