“He can if he will. The trouble is that he sees things without thinking of learning anything about them. If he begins to cultivate the habit of investigation it will grow on him, and it will not be long before he will discover the value of some of the knowledge thus obtained. Try it, Barney.” “Begobs, Oi will! Oi niver thought av it before, but it’s mesilf thot’ll be after trying it. Did yez notice th’ girrul wid thot horse-bater, Frankie?” “Yes. Rather pretty, I thought.” “It’s a p’ache she wur, me b’y!” enthusiastically declared the Irish lad. “It’s not plazed she wur wid th’ way th’ spalpane wur b’atin’ th’ poor b’aste.” They came out of the wood to the open country, and a beautiful stretch of country lay before them. Of a sudden, Barney gave an exclamation: “Look there, Frankie!” he cried, pointing. Along the road from a distance, coming toward them at a mad and furious gallop, was a horse, bearing a girl, who was vainly trying to hold the frightened animal. In pursuit of the runaway was a man who was fiercely lashing another horse, and Frank recognized this animal even before he did the rider. It was the handsome black horse that the stranger had been maltreating in the wood, and its rider was the same hot-tempered young man. The girl on the runaway was his companion. Instantly Frank seemed to understand what had happened. “The fool!” burst from his lips. “He has kept at his own horse till the one the girl is riding has been frightened and is running away with her. She may be thrown and killed!” Without loss of time, Frank turned about, so he was heading in the same direction as the runaway horse, which was coming behind him. “Pwhat are yez goin’ to do?” cried Barney. “I am going to stop that runaway horse if I am built right!” returned Frank, with grim determination. “Look out—look out, there!” The man in pursuit of the runaway shouted to the boys. Barney was not given time to turn about. He tried to do so, but in his haste and confusion, ran out of the road into the ditch, and was forced to dismount. Before he could get into the saddle again the frightened horse was bearing the girl past. The Irish boy caught a glimpse of her face, from which the warm color had fled. Her lips were pressed firmly together, and there was a look of fear in her dark eyes; but she was doing her very best to check the frightened horse, although the animal had the bit in his teeth, and her gloved hands seemed unable to do but little to restrain him. A thought of Frank’s theories concerning a “light hand” for driving flashed through Barney’s head, but he instantly realized that this was an exceptional occasion. Even brute strength might not avail now. Then how did Merry expect to check the runaway?