"There is no time to get one, now," the other answered. "My horse is stronger than yours. I'll go into the creek just below, where it's broader and not so deep, and work my way up to him." "But one horse can't carry both." "His will follow, be sure, when it sees me." As the last speaker moved away, Gilbert saw a led horse plunging through the water, beside the other. It was a difficult and dangerous undertaking. The horseman and the loose horse entered the main stream 10 below, where its divided channel met and broadened, but it was still above the saddle-girths, and very swift. Sometimes the animals plunged, losing their foothold; nevertheless, they gallantly breasted the current, and inch by inch worked their way to a point about six feet below Gilbert. It seemed impossible to approach nearer. "Can you swim?" asked the man. Gilbert shook his head. "Throw me the end of Roger's bridle !" he then cried. The man unbuckled the bridle and threw it, keeping the end of the rein in his hand. Gilbert tried to grasp it, but his hands were too numb. He managed, however, to get one arm and his head through the opening, and relaxed his hold on the log. 15 20 25 A plunge, and the man had him by the collar. He felt himself lifted by a strong arm and laid across Roger's saddle. With his failing strength and stiff limbs, it was no slight task to get into place, and the return, though less laborious to the horses, was 30 5 equally dangerous, because Gilbert was scarcely able to support himself without help. "You're safe now," said the man, when they reached the bank, "but it's a downright mercy of 5 God that you're alive!" The other horseman joined them, and they rode slowly across the flooded meadow. They had both thrown their cloaks around Gilbert, and carefully steadied him in the saddle, one on each side. He was 10 too much exhausted to ask how they had found him, or whither they were taking him,-too numb for curiosity, almost for gratitude. "Here's your saviour!" said one of the men, patting Roger's shoulder. "It was all along of him 15 that we found you. Want to know how? Well about three o'clock it was, maybe a little earlier, maybe a little later, my wife woke me up. 'Do you hear that?' she says. I listened and heard a horse in the lane before the door, neighing,—I can't tell you 20 exactly how it was,-like as if he'd call up the house. 'T was rather queer, I thought, so I got up and looked out of window, and it seemed to me he had a saddle on. He stamped, and pawed, and then he gave another yell, and stamped again. Says I to my wife, There's something wrong here,' and I dressed and went out. When he saw me, he acted the strangest you ever saw; thinks I, if ever an animal wanted to speak, that animal does. When I tried to catch him, he shot off, run down the lane a bit, and 30 then came back as strangely acting as ever. I went 25 into the house and woke up my brother, here, and we saddled our horses and started. Away went yours ahead, stopping every minute to look round and see. if we followed. When we came to the water, I kind o' hesitated, but 'twas no use; the horse would have 5 us go on, and on, till we found you. I never heard tell of the like of it, in my born days!" Gilbert did not speak, but two large tears slowly gathered in his eyes, and rolled down his cheeks. The men saw his emotion, and respected it. 10 In the light of the cold, keen dawn, they reached a snug farmhouse, a mile from the Brandywine. The men lifted Gilbert from the saddle, and would have carried him immediately into the house, but he first leaned upon Roger's neck, took the faithful creature's 15 head in his arms, and kissed it. The good housewife was already up, and anxiously awaiting the return of her husband and his brother. A cheery fire crackled on the hearth, and the coffee-pot was simmering beside it. When Gil- 20 bert had been partially revived by the warmth, the men conducted him into an adjoining bed-room, undressed him, and rubbed his limbs with whisky. Then, a large bowl of coffee having been adminis tered, he was placed in bed, covered with half a dozen 25 blankets, and the curtains were drawn over the windows, In a few minutes he was plunged in a slumber almost as profound as that of the death from which he had been so miraculously delivered. It was two hours past noon when he awoke, and 30 he no sooner fully comprehended the situation and learned how the time had sped, than he insisted on rising, although still sore, weak, and feverish. The good farmer's wife had kept a huge portion of dinner 5 hot before the fire, and he knew that without compelling a show of appetite, he would not be considered sufficiently recovered to leave. He had but one desire, to return home. So recently plucked from the jaws of Death, his life seemed to be an uncertain possession. 10 From "The Story of Kennett." Permission of G. P. Putnam's Sons. BAYARD TAYLOR. 15 20 WINTER. When icicles hang by the wall And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And milk comes frozen home in pail; A merry note, While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. When all around the wind doth blow, And Marian's nose looks red and raw; When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl, A merry note, While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. From "Love's Labor's Lost." WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE. Under the greenwood tree Who loves to lie with me, And tune his merry note Unto the sweet bird's throat, Come hither, come hither, come hither: Here shall he see No enemy But winter and rough weather. Who doth ambition shun, And loves to live i' the sun, Seeking the food he eats, And pleased with what he gets, Come hither, come hither, come hither: Here shall he see No enemy But winter and rough weather. From "As You Like It." WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. |