Page:Dapples of the Circus (1943).pdf/166

 know him. He was a wonderful little horse. I used to ride him up in the pasture at the poor-farm."

"No," said the nurse. "It was in the circus. Bingham and Daily's big show. Don't you remember? You know it was wrecked last week."

"The circus was wrecked?" asked Freckles incredulously, showing interest for the first time. "Was that what made my berth rise up so quickly?"

Then a clutch of great fear seized the half-delirious boy.

"Oh, lady!" he cried. "What became of Dapples? My little horse! The one I used to ride! Was he killed?"

"Oh, no," replied the nurse quickly. "He is all right. The circus man had him brought to a stable right near the hospital, and when you are well, you can ride him."

But at this point poor Freckles's mind went cloudy again.

"Dapples was killed in the wreck," he moaned. "There was a wreck and he