All this passed in an instant, and Marco, before he had a moment’s time for reflection, found himself alone on his seat,—­the driver run over and perhaps killed, and the horses cantering away, with the reins dangling about their heels.  The first impulse, in such a case, would be to scream aloud, in terror,—­which would have only made the horses run the faster.  But Marco was not very easily frightened; at least, he was not easily made crazy by fright.  So he did not scream; and not knowing what else to do, he sat still and did nothing.

[Illustration:  The accident.]

In the mean time, the passengers inside knew nothing of all this.  Many of them had been asleep when they came over the bridge.  The jolt had aroused them a little, but there was nothing to indicate to them the accident which had occurred forward, so they quietly adjusted themselves in their seats, and endeavored to compose themselves to sleep again.

The horses were well trained and gentle.  They cantered on as far as the level ground extended, and then they slackened their pace as they began to rise the ascent.  The idea then occurred to Marco, that perhaps he might clamber down over the fender to the pole, and then walk along upon that a little way till he could gather up the reins.  Then he thought that if he could get back again with them to the driver’s seat, perhaps he could stop the horses.  Marco was an expert climber.  He had learned this art in his gymnasium at New York; so that he had no fears in respect to his being able to get down and back again.  The only danger was, lest he might frighten the horses again and set them to running anew.

After a moment’s reflection, he concluded that at any rate he would try it; so he cautiously stepped over the fender and clambered down.  When his feet reached the pole, he rested them a moment upon it, and clung with his hands to the fender and other parts of the front of the coach.  He found his position here more unstable than he had expected; for the coach being upon springs, the forward part rose and fell with many jerks and surges, as the horses traveled swiftly along, while the pole was held in its position straight and firm.  Thus the different parts of his body were connected with different systems of motion, which made his position very uncomfortable.

He found, however, after a moment’s pause, that he could stand, and probably walk upon the pole; so he advanced cautiously, putting his hands on the backs of the horses, and walking along on the pole between them.  The horses were somewhat disturbed by the strange sensations which they experienced, and began to canter again; but Marco, who felt more and more confidence every moment, pushed boldly on, gathered up the reins, and got all the ends together.  Then taking the ends of the reins in one hand, he crept back, supporting himself by taking hold of the harness of one of the horses with the other hand.  By this means he regained the coach, and then, though with some difficulty, he clambered up to his seat again.