be restrained from dashing off at a run. The young farmer, in the mean
while, finding himself closely pressed by those behind him, without
any apparent disposition on their part to turn out and pass by him,
now veered partly out of the road, to give the others, with the same
change in their course to the opposite side, an opportunity, if they
chose, of going by, as might easily have been done with safety to all
concerned.

"Mr. Peters!" suddenly exclaimed Miss Haviland, in a tone of energetic
remonstrance, at the same time catching at his arm, as if to restrain
him from some intended movement, which her watchful eye had detected.

This appeal, however, which was rather acted than spoken, was
unheeded, or came too late; for, at that instant, the chafing and
maddened horses dashed furiously forward, directly over the exposed
corner of the young man's vehicle, which, under the iron-bound feet of
the fiercely-treading animals, and the heavy sleigh runners that
followed, came down with a crash to the ground, leaving him barely
time to clear himself from the wreck, by leaping forward into the
snow. Startled by the noise behind him, the frightened pony made a
sudden but vain effort to spring forward with the still connected
remains of the jumper, which were, at the instant confined down by the
passing runners of the large sleigh; when snorting and wild with
desperation, he reared himself upright on his hinder legs, and fell
over backwards, striking, with nearly the whole weight of his body,
upon his doubled neck, which all saw at a glance was broken by the fall.

With eyes flashing with indignation, young Woodburn bounded forward to
the head of the aggressing team, boldly seized the nearest horse by
his nostrils and bridle curb, and, in spite of his desperate rearing