stick. She knew that it could only offer little protection, but she kept it in front of herself just the same.
As soon as she was out of sight of the wolf, she ran for the house and called the servants. She ordered her horse readied and she rode with them in pursuit of the animal. With the help of the dogs, the wolf was cornered and one of the servants killed it.
'If Agnes culd face a wolf and nay faint,' John thought, 'surely she culd also face a human enemy with the same determination.'
With no warning, the great horse that John was riding went down and John flew over his head and onto the muddy road. The momentum caused John to roll several times before coming to a stop. For a moment he was dazed and lay still in the mud. The mud had cushioned the fall and he was unharmed. When he realized his circumstances, he jumped up and rushed back to his horse who was trying without success to stand. The horse had apparently broken a leg in a hole and it was not possible for him to rise. The great horse fought valiantly to get to his feet, but only managed to cover himself in mud and to dig a deeper hole. His eyes were wide with fright and great billows of steam exited his nostrils. It pained John to watch, unable to help his horse. John tried in vain to calm the beast. Eventually, the horse lay down in the muddy road after having exhausted his strength. John felt a lump in his throat and moisture in his eyes as he looked on his horse. This was more than a horse to John. They had spent everyday together for years and had traveled this same road many times. And now his friend lay in the mud with a broken leg. John knew that he could not leave the horse there to die a slow and painful death alone. With his horse laying still, John approached and knelt in the mud next to him.
John stoked the horse's head and whispered in his ear, 'I am so soory, me friend. You 'ave been a faithful companion. I am grateful to you for your service.'
John then searched the nearby roadway for the largest stone that he could heft over his head and carried near to his horse. As the brave horse looked into John's eyes, John felt that the horse sensed what was about to happen and John looked away. He stroked the horse's long mane and patted his back. The horse turned his head, presenting John with the opportunity to pick up the stone. He raised it high above his head and brought it down swiftly on his horse's forehead. The horse went limp and John turned his back. He wiped away the tears that started to flow down his face and looked around. He realized that he was miles from home and without a horse. He decided to walk to Aveley where he hoped to purchase a horse. It wouldn't be a great horse like the one that he loved, but it would get him home. He checked his pouch and determined that he had enough money to purchase a horse, but it would leave him short on lodging and food. He expected that he could eat bread rather than purchase cooked meals at public houses and he then would have sufficient funds to reach home.
It was late morning before he reached Aveley. It was a very small village with one public house. John went to the public house to inquire about the purchase of a horse.
Because it was still early in the day, there were few others in the public house.
'Gud dee, sir,' John said to the owner of the public house.
The man looked sternly at John and said, 'Oy, whot do you mean bringing that mud in 'ere anyway? At least remove your boots and cloak.'
'Pardon me, sir,' John said as he looked down at his muddy britches and boots. 'I lost me 'orse and took a tumble.'
'I do nay care aboot your 'orse, you will leave your muddy cloak and boots ootseed.'
Unaccustomed to such treatment, especially in front of others, and upset at the callous response to loosing his horse, John felt his face flush with a combination of embarrassment and anger. He wanted to lash out in response, but instead removed his cloak and boots and left them at the door.
Speaking to the