Lef, looking, saw a furniture van coming along. It took the entire width of the narrow river road, and was at a spot where cruel rocks abounded on either side. “You must have met that thing. The horse would have dashed to one side, and the buggy been overturned among those rocks. And you can understand what must have followed. That’s why I made him shy! I knew it was ten times safer for you both to be dragged into the river than thrown out down the road!” Lef was mute with horror. He realized that this quick-witted boy had sized up the situation in a second, and acted promptly. After all, there was no damage done save to their ruffled feelings, and Minnie’s lovely red dress. But the girl would not speak to Lef, even when he asked her if she would get into the vehicle again. “Frank, you’ll walk home with me, won’t you?” she said, turning to him, with the same old glow in her blue eyes. “Only be too glad; and besides, I think the exercise would be the best thing for you after your ducking. Ta! ta! Lef. The next time you ask a girl to go out riding be sure you take a horse you can manage.” Lef could not make any reply. He was too full of anger to speak, and turning away he went back to his horse. After the furniture van had passed he jumped in and sped the animal, now tractable enough, down the road. The three pedestrians stepped aside to let him pass; but not a word was said, although Ralph did wave a hand mockingly after him, as if speeding his homeward flight. “What caused the runaway, Minnie?” asked Frank, as they walked on, after Ralph had secured Frank’s coat and shoes, the warm sunshine and air rapidly drying the water-soaked garments of the party. “I really hardly know. Something I said must have made Lef angry, for he began to whip the horse unmercifully, although I told him it was cruel. We had turned to come back, you see. Oh! I was so frightened! I’ll never go riding with him again. I only hope my mother will never know,” she said, entreatingly. “She won’t from me, and I can answer for Ralph here,” said Frank, promptly. Half an hour later the boys parted from Minnie and turned toward Frank’s house. “What’s the matter with your arm, Frank?” asked Ralph, who had been noticing that the other kept feeling of it every now and then. “I’m afraid I bruised it against a rock when I jumped in; and, hang the luck, of course it happens to be my pitching wing. You may have to get in that box to-day, after all, Ralph, and fight for the glory of Old Columbia,” the other said, soberly. CHAPTER XII THE OLD PRINCETONIAN’S ADVICE “Oh! I hope not!” exclaimed Ralph, in dismay, as he eagerly pounced on the arm Frank had been rubbing. “Come in with me, and I’ll see what some liniment can do for it,” remarked the other, calmly; but it was evident from his manner that he believed there might be something more serious the matter than a slight bruise.