“O, dear!  I should not dare to do so.”

“Then, if you please, I will drive down alone, so as to let your father know that you are safe.”

“Do.”

“I am sure he must feel very bad, and I may save him a great deal of pain, for a man can suffer a great deal in a very short time.”

“You are a little philosopher, as well as a hero, and if you are not afraid of Kate, you may do as you wish.”

“She seems very gentle now;” and Bobby turned her round, and got into the chaise.

“Be very careful,” said the lady.

“I will.”

Bobby took the reins, and Kate, true to the promise she had virtually made, started off at a round pace towards the village.

He had not gone more than a quarter of a mile of the distance when he met a wagon containing three men, one of whom was the lady’s father.  The gestures which he made assured Bobby he had found the person whom he sought, and he stopped.

“My daughter!  Where is she?” gasped the gentleman, as he leaped from the wagon.

“She is safe, sir,” replied Bobby, with all the enthusiasm of his warm nature.

“Thank God!” added the gentleman, devoutly as he placed himself in the chaise by the side of Bobby.

CHAPTER II.

In which Bobby blushes several times, and does A sum in arithmetic.

Mr. Bayard, the owner of the horse, and the father of the lady whom Bobby had saved from impending death, was too much agitated to say much, even to the bold youth who had rendered him such a signal service.  He could scarcely believe the intelligence which the boy brought him; it seemed too good to be true.  He had assured himself that Ellen—­for that was the young lady’s name—­was killed, or dreadfully injured.

Kate was driven at the top of her speed, and in a few moments reached the bridge, where Ellen was awaiting his arrival.

“Here I am, father, alive and unhurt!” cried Ellen, as Mr. Bayard stopped the horse.

“Thank Heaven my child!” replied the glad father, embracing his daughter.  “I was sure you were killed.”

“No, father; thanks to this bold youth, I am uninjured.”

“I am under very great obligations to you, young man,” continued Mr. Bayard, grasping Bobby’s hand.

“O, never mind, sir;” and Bobby blushed just as he had blushed when the young lady spoke to him.

“We shall never forget you—­shall we, father?” added Ellen.

“No, my child; and I shall endeavor to repay, to some slight extent, our indebtedness to him.  But you have not yet told me how you were saved.”

“O, I merely stopped the horse; that’s all,” answered Bobby, modestly.

“Yes, father, but he placed himself right before Kate when she was almost flying over the ground.  When I saw him, I was certain that he would lose his life, or be horribly mangled for his boldness,” interposed Ellen.