The next minute it was nearly abreast of Ralph, who, without thinking of the consequences of such an act, leaped at the rein, caught it, and was dragged along some twenty yards, before, snorting and trembling, the little animal, which he knew as Mark Eden's, stopped short, and began to rear. "Quick!" shouted the lad. "I can't hold him: try and slip off." His words were heard by the frightened rider, but there was little need to tell her to slip off, for the pony reared again, nearly upright, the rider glided from the saddle over the animal's haunches, and fell amongst the bushes by the track, while Ralph was dragged onward again. It all occurred in a few moments, the pony stopped, reared again, made another bound, dropped off the track, and, as Ralph loosed his hold, rolled over and over down the steep slope right into the river with a tremendous splash, which cooled it on the instant; and it regained its feet, scrambled actively ashore, gave itself a shake, and then began to graze, as if nothing was the matter. "Mark Eden's sister," thought Ralph, as he hurriedly climbed back to the track, where, looking wild and scared, Mary Eden had just regained her feet, and was standing trembling. "Are you hurt?" he cried aloud. "Yes, dreadfully. No: I don't think so. Only scratched," she replied, half-crying. "I couldn't stop him. He hasn't been out lately. He ran away with me. What shall I do?" she sobbed now. "Mark will be so angry. Is his pony much hurt?" "Oh, never mind the pony," cried Ralph, taking her hand. "Here, let me help you to Master Rayburn's." "But I do mind about the pony," cried the girl angrily. "It doesn't matter about me. Do you think he has broken his knees, or his legs?" "It does not seem like it," said Ralph, smiling. "Look, he is browsing on the thick grass down there." "Is--is my face much scratched?" "Hardly at all," said Ralph. "Then thank you so for stopping him; I was so frightened. Ah, look! there's Master Rayburn." She clapped her hands with delight, as she caught sight of the old man, hatless, and with his white hair flying, running down the path. Then turning, back to Ralph, she said, naively: "Please, who are you? Oh, I know now. I haven't seen you for two years, and--" She shrank away from him in a peculiarly cold and distant manner, and at that moment Master Rayburn panted up. "Much hurt, my dear?" he cried excitedly, as he caught the girl in his arms. "No, no, I think not," she said, beginning to sob anew. "Thank God! thank God!" cried the old man fervently.--"Hah! My heart was in my mouth. Why can't people be content to walk? Come back home with me, my child. Here, Ralph Darley, how was it? Did you stop the brute?" "I tried to," said the lad quietly, "but I couldn't hold him long." "Long enough to save her, my lad," cried the old man, looking from one to the other in a peculiar way.--"How strange--how strange!" he muttered. Then aloud, in an abrupt way: