Boy dismounted, and Silver followed her example. She held out her hand toward the colt. "Come on, the boy!" she cooed. "Billy Bluff's not here to rag you." The colt came delicately with outstretched neck and wide nostrils, fearing for his liberty, yet poking out his nose toward the extended palm on which there lay a piece of bread. "Looks as if he might make into something, don't you think?" said the girl. "Lots of bone." "What colour's he going to be?" asked the young man. "Black-brown with bay points. Black-and-tan, mother calls him." "Black-and-tan," said the young man. "That's Berserk, isn't it?" "I believe so," replied the girl. "Is that sure?" asked the young man. "Father seems to think so," replied Boy evasively. "Monkey Brand met the gypsy afterward, who pitched him a tale." "Who's he belong to?" asked the young man. "Me, of course," laughed Boy. "I'll go shares with you!" said Silver. "Halve expenses and winnings. There's an offer now!" "Right," she cried. They shook hands with laughter, and led their horses across the Close. The girl edged off to the right. "We'll look in on old Ragamuffin," she said. "I always used to give him an apple on my birthday." As they put the wood between them and the Bottom, a man who had been lying in the shelter out of the wind came to the door and called to the colt. "Whoa, little man!" he said. "Whoa then!" CHAPTER XXVII The Fire in the Dusk It was Jerry who gave the alarm ten minutes later. He had been busy at his garden in the Sloperies when he saw the smoke rise from the shelter on the hill, and rushed into the yard to say the shed was ablaze. Boy and Silver, after their leisurely walk home, had just entered the yard and surrendered their horses to two of the lads. The girl was releasing Billy Bluff from his chain, to Maudie's open annoyance, when Jerry panted in with his news. Silver ran to the gate. "By Jove, so it is!" he cried. He was in the saddle in a moment, but not so quickly as was the girl. She led him through the gate. Together they galloped across the Paddock Close and made for the hill, Billy Bluff racing at their side. The lads ran heavily behind. The shed was belching smoke, and from the heather-thatch the flames were leaping in red flicker. "Jolly blaze!" cried Silver as he galloped. A sound of banging came from the heart of that cloud of smoke, and then the loud neigh of a frightened horse. The young man's face changed. "Four Pound's inside!" he cried. He stormed up the hill, and for the first time in his life Banjo tasted steel. Boy, too, had heard that muffled cry, and came shooting by the heavy-weight up the hill, Lollypop well extended. "Keep clear!" cried Silver. "Hold my horse!" He was off in a trice, and wading through the bellying smoke. The girl could see him dimly as he kicked at the door of the shed. It burst open. A vast shadow came hurtling through the fog. Silver was sent hurling backward and sprawled on the hillside.