Many and various were the conjectures.

Some professed to believe that the colts had been wantonly poisoned.

"It's a state-prison offense to lay poison for domestic animals," we overheard several of them say; but no one could find any motive for such a deed.
The owner of the Percheron brought a horse doctor, who made a careful examination, but he was unable to determine anything more than that the horses had died of a virulent poison.

We buried them that afternoon.
Before night the news had reached Mrs.Kennard.In her grief she not only reproached herself bitterly for allowing Sylph to be turned out in so wild a place but held the old Squire and all of us as somehow to blame for her pet's death.

The owner of the Percherons also intimated that he should hold us liable for his loss, although when a man turns his stock out in a neighbor's pasture it is generally on the understanding that it is at his own risk.