after her husband.

Diamond lay awake for a few minutes, thinking what he could do
to catch worms. It was very little trouble to make up his mind,
however, and still less to go to sleep after it.



CHAPTER XXIV

ANOTHER EARLY BIRD


HE GOT up in the morning as soon as he heard the men moving
in the yard. He tucked in his little brother so that he could
not tumble out of bed, and then went out, leaving the door open,
so that if he should cry his mother might hear him at once.
When he got into the yard he found the stable-door just opened.

"I'm the early bird, I think," he said to himself. "I hope I shall
catch the worm."

He would not ask any one to help him, fearing his project might meet
with disapproval and opposition. With great difficulty, but with the
help of a broken chair he brought down from his bedroom, he managed
to put the harness on Diamond. If the old horse had had the least
objection to the proceeding, of course he could not have done it;
but even when it came to the bridle, he opened his mouth for the bit,
just as if he had been taking the apple which Diamond sometimes gave him.
He fastened the cheek-strap very carefully, just in the usual hole,