About two hours later, I smelled a strong, acrid smell.

I opened my eyes.

Fire!

I whinnied loudly, half-rearing.

Rhubarb looked too.

"The stupid human-its that cigarette!" He cried.

Then I remembered the soldier from a couple of hours ago.

"oh my god!" I cried. I reared again, neiging louder.

At last, the door opened and the girl who had rescued me stood at the enterance.

As I landed, I stumbled and fell.

"Come on boy, let's get you out of here." I heard the girl saying, clipping a leadrope to his headcollar and walking him out of the stable.

She obviously hadn't seen me. I struggled to stand up.

Rhubarb stopped and tried to pull away.

"I'm not going to let her leave you, Sadie!" He told me, digging his heels in the ground and tossing his mane.

"Come on stallion! I don't have time for this!" The girl cried, tugging firmly at the leadrope.

Rhubarb followed her, but tried to be disobedient.

I whinnied to him. "Don't leave me!"

Once Rhubarb was outside, he began to tug at his leadrope.

"Come on stallion! You were the only horse in there!" The girl said.

Rhubarb shook his head, gave a final tug and set himself free.

Just as he was about to turn back into the barn, the girl leapt up on to his back and held the leadrope.

"Now I get it-you weren't the only horse in there!" She whispered.

Rhubarb galloped back to the barn.

I wasn't doing too well. My leg hurt from where I'd stumbled and smoke was beginning to suffocate me.

I heard the door burst open again. I looked up and saw Rhubarb standing in the doorwy.

He cantered forwards and kicked the stable door open.

Grabbing my leadrope with his teeth, he hauled me up off the floor.

The fire was spreading even faster now, and men had gathered with hoses and buckets of water, trying to put it out.

Rhubarb led me out just in time.

We had reached the corral over the other side when the barn suddenly crashed to the floor and the fire gradually died.

Rubarb was breathing hard.

"We're safe, Sadie!" He grinned.

But I couldn't hear him.

I could hear nothing but my breathing getting slower and more painful. I coughed hard and I dropped to the floor.

"SADIE!" Rhubarb cried.

I could feel my lungs pulsing with pain, and I slipped out of conciousness…