covered with black mud, showing that she had been down. For a minute,
Ben's heart stood still, then he flung away his book, ran to the
horse, and saw at once by her heaving flanks, dilated nostrils and wet
coat, that she must have come a long way and at full speed.

"She has had a fall, but isn't hurt or frightened," thought the boy,
as the pretty creature rubbed her nose against his shoulder, pawed the
ground and champed her bit, as if she tried to tell him all about the
disaster, whatever it was.

"Lita, where's Miss Celia?" he asked, looking straight into the
intelligent eyes, which were troubled but not wild.

Lita threw up her head and neighed loud and clear as if she called her
mistress, and turning, would have gone again if Ben had not caught the
reins and held her.

"All right, we'll find her;" and, pulling off the broken saddle,
kicking away his shoes, and ramming his hat firmly on, Ben was up like
a flash, tingling all over with a sense of power as he felt the bare
back between his knees, and caught the roll of Lita's eye as she
looked round with an air of satisfaction.

"Hi, there! Mrs. Moss! Something has happened to Miss Celia, and I'm
going to find her. Thorny is asleep; tell him easy, and I'll come back
as soon as I can."

Then, giving Lita her head, he was off before the startled woman had
time to do more than wring her hands and cry out: