Chapter 7
Chapter 7 of Galapoff the Talking Pony For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Galapoff the Talking Pony by Tudor Jenks Chapter 7 Rescue of the Russian Prince Perhaps the most comfortable talk the little girls ever had with the pony was the one following the day of the picnic.
Lola and Pauline had gone to spend the afternoon in a rustic summer house at the lower end of their own grounds, a place much enjoyed by the little girls and the caterpillars. Here the girls brought their books and their work to have a long, quiet afternoon together. For a time they worked in silence, one at a piece of patchwork and the other at a piece of embroidery. Then they began to talk, and gradually came to the subject of Gallopoff's
adventures. The worst of it is, said Pauline, that he all the time gets off the subject. What I want to know about is how he came to live here with you. He's always giving hints about it, but he never comes right out and tells a plain, straightforward story. Well, how can I, said Gallopov, putting his head in through the window. There is always somebody around, catching fish, or something to interrupt. But Pat has gone to town, Lola answered. It is
is day out. Nobody is likely to come here. We have our work, and we will listen patiently if you'd like to go on. It is hard to tell a short story, said Gallopoff. So many things keep getting in the way, and they are all so interesting. Now, you remember, I had just sent my cousin, Cantaro, to take my place in the circus. Of course he couldn't do as well, but I couldn't help that. And the next thing was to carry the money to my little master. That was something
of a puzzle at first. You see, I could not very well travel over miles of road with a bag of heavy gold coins in my mouth, even if there'd be no danger of losing them, or of having them taken away from me. So I decided that I must put the money in some shape in which it could be carried more safely and more easily. The next question was how to do this. After thinking it all out very carefully, I made a plan. I don't trust grown-up human beings very often, because
they are surprised or frightened when they hear an animal talk, but I always get along well with children. So I made friends with a little boy on the farm where my cousin lived, and when we were good friends I began to do little tricks for him, such as bowing, kneeling, rolling over, playing dead, and so on. This made him think that I was quite intelligent. Here Galapoff could not help laughing to himself, and the children laughed too. Then he went
Next, I pretended to try to speak, and easily led him to teach me to talk. It was wonderful to see how quickly the boy taught me to say easy Russian words, such as ovis, or oats, dom, house, and how rapidly I learned to say even simple sentences. Meanwhile, I made inquiries from the other animals about the place, and I found the boy was an honest little fellow and could be trusted.
At last, when we could talk a little freely, I sent him to change my gold pieces, at different times and places in town, into paper money. And then I made him fold all the bills up into a small, tight roll, which he tied very securely in among the thick locks of my white mane. He was a nice boy, said Paulian warmly.
Indeed, he was, Gallipoff agreed. But I gave him one piece of gold for himself. That was nice of you, exclaimed Lola. Indeed, it was, Gallopoff agreed again. But I'm naturally generous. Now that I was ready for the journey, I bade Boris, the boy, goodbye. And off I set for Siberia, travelling at night, hiding by day, swimming the rivers that came in my way,
sometimes chased by wolves or by men losing the road again and again uphill and downhill by dale and by wood getting to eat whatever i could why gallop off exclaimed pauline do you know you're talking poetry gallop off shut his eyes very modestly and nodded to show he had heard but didn't like to be interrupted, and went straight on, sometimes through deserts or deep drifts of snow, past dreary villages all in a row, in a long swinging gallop or a good steady trot,
taking my rest in some desolate spot, but always asking the horses I met whether I'd come to Siberia yet. So I went on till I came to the place where I gazed with delight on my young master's face. Both the girls were so delighted that they clapped their hounds loudly. Galapoff gave a great jump when they did this and shied as if scared. Don't do that again, please, he exclaimed. I'm not frightened exactly, but it came so quick. One of the horrors I didn't tell you is this. First shy,
then ask why. Now, why did you clap your hands? We were so glad you found your master, said Lola. and it came so quick. It has to come quick in poetry, said Gallopoff. But I didn't know people clapped their hands except in circuses, so it startled me a little. Well, I came at last to the mines where my little master was at work, and I can tell you I felt sorry for him. He had never heard me speak, but I had no time to prepare him. I just waited until he was a little way from the
rest of the men at work, and then I came galloping up to him. Get on my back quick, I cried. I'm your own pony, Gallopoff. Jump on, quick, quick. Well, he was scared out of his seven senses, but just then he heard one of the guards shout, and he jumped on my back, and poof, away we flew. Ping, ping, ping, came the bullets from the guards' rifle, but I ran zigzag, and we were hit only once. See, I have the scar on my shoulder.
Gallopoff showed a white strip where the hair didn't grow by touching it with his nose. Then how we did go! It was neck or nothing, and soon the guard, having emptied his rifle, ran to his horse and put after us. Oh, I tell you, children, that was a good race.
But I had been travelling for weeks, and the poor fat horse of the guard had no chance at all. His hoofbeats began to sound fainter and fainter, and I shouted out to him in horse talk, It's no use, old slow coach. You'd better stumble if you want to save yourself trouble. He must have been a clever and good-natured horse, for he took my hint at once,
and I heard him go slithering down all in a heap. So the chase was over, and I got a good start. If my master had tried to guide me, we should have been lost, that is, caught, for he would have gone by the regular roads. But I told him what to do, and he let me have my own way. When we came near a big town, I made him get down and hide, while I went in to find him some clothes. I soon saw a tailor's shop, where there were some clothes on the counter, and, rushing in, I seized them in my teeth, and then, calling out,
Don't move! For your lives! I was off again, before they understood what had happened. The tailor probably thought I was a black demon. Anyway, I never saw or heard of him again. Back I went to my little master, who was hiding in a clump of trees, and, while he was putting on the clothes, which were a very bad fit, by the way, I had a long talk and explained everything. Besides, I told him where my money was, and he soon had it safely in his pocket.
Then we separated, because it was not safe for us to travel together, and I have not seen him since. But first I told him that I was going to America to find your father, and that he must make his way to me afterwards. This he promised to do, since he believed that all the rest of his family were somewhere in the United States. Next time, I'll tell you how I carried out my part of our bargain. Isn't it pleasant to have Pat out of the way?
Just as he said this, Galapoff looked around, and he was off like a shot, for Pat was seen and dressed in his wrinkled Sunday suit, coming to call Lola and Pauline in to their dinner. End of chapter 7
