Jody: What is the matter with him?

Billy Buck: Strangles, but don’t you worry about that. I’ll pull him out of it.  I’ve seen them get well when they were worse than Gabilan.  I’m going to steam him now.  Want to help? 

Jody: Yes

Narrator: They steam Gabilan. The strong steam helps clear his sinuses and helps him breath.  The next morning Jody is curious to see if Gabila|n is doing any better.

Jody: How is he?

Billy Buck: Pretty good.  I’m going to open the lump this morning.  Then he’ll be better maybe.

Narrator: Billy got his best knife and whetted the shiney blade.  The pony was not doing good.  His eyes were sealed together with dried mucus.\

Billy: Are you ready Jody?
Jody: Yes, but Billy, please be careful.

Narrator: Jody lifts the pony’s head and Billy Buck made a quick slash with the knife. Jody watched the yellow pus run out. He watched and watched and watched until it drained out. Billy cleaned out the open wound.

Billy: That yellow poison is what makes him sick. The surgery w 




went very well. Hopefully Gabilan will get better soon.

Jody: He’s awful sick.  

Billy: Yeah he is pretty sick, so you sleep with him tonight.  And come and get me if it gets worse, you hear me.

Jody: Yes

Narrator:Jody gets all of his bedding and piles it up in the hay.  He sleeps very lightly that night, keeping a careful eye on Gabilan.  In the morning Billy decides to cut a breathing hole in the pony’s throat.  At breakfast, Billy tells Jody.

Billy: I’m going to open a little hole in his windpipe so he can breathe. His nose is filled up. When he gets well, we will put a little brass button in the hole for him to breathe through.

Jody: I’ll stay here and help you.

Billy: If you stay, you can hold his head.  If it doesn’t make you sick that is.

Narrator: The fine knife came out again and was whetted again just as careful as it has been the first time.  Jody held the pony’s head up and the throat taut, while Billy felt up and down for the right place.  Jody sobbed once as the bright knifepoint disappeared in the throat on the pony.  

Horse-*horse noise*

Billy: He could breathe better now.

Jody: Will this really help him?

Billy: Of course it will, as long as the hole is not covered he will be okay.

Narrator: The breathing pipe helped the pony breathe but the pony could not survive much longer.  Gabilan the pony eventually dies and Jody is petrified.

**********The end

*********Bloopers