Little Horse on His Own

Betsy Byars, illustrated by David McPhail

Henry Holt and Co.

Chapter 1: "Dream"

Little Horse slept on a bed of soft straw. He dreamed.

In the dream, he was back in the Valley of the Little Horses. He ran in the meadow with the colts.

They frisked. They leaped into the air. Their hind legs kicked out behind them. They neighed with joy.

Suddenly the dream was scary. He heard his mother's long, high whinny. That meant danger. He ran for the cave. In the cave he would be safe.

Little Horse awoke before he got there. He stood up at once. His legs wobbled.

He heard the long, high whinny again. Then he knew the danger was not in his dream. It was real.

He moved shakily to the door of his stable. He looked out. The night was dark. There were no stars, no moon.

The high whinny had come from the stable of the big horses. One of the big horses whinnied, then another.

Little Horse's heart beat faster.

Big horse, little horse, that high whinny meant the same thing.


Copyright © 2004 by Betsy Byars
This text is from an uncorrected proof.