Luckily the barn was a good distance from the house and Mrs.Barnes and Imogene were sound sleepers.

But even with those advantages he did not dare attempt getting the buggy out of the barn, and decided to use the old discarded carryall, relic of "Cap'n Abner," which now stood under the open shed at the rear.
George Washington looked at him in sleepy wonder as he tiptoed into the barn and lit the lantern.

To be led out of his stall at "midnight's solemn hour" and harnessed was more than George's equine reasoning could fathom.

The harnessing was a weird and wonderful operation.

Caleb's trembling fingers were all thumbs.