The steed was a spirited one and not used to the whip, and scarcely had the lash landed than he gave a wild leap into the air, came down, and broke into a mad run, dragging his mate with him.  A second later the carriage struck a stone, bounced up, and Borgy was pitched out, to land in the midst of some bushes growing by the roadside.

The bolting of the team proved almost fatal to the boys in front, who scattered just in time to let horses and carriage pass them with lightning-like speed.  Then the cadets gathered together and stared blankly at one another.

“It’s a runaway!”

“Serves old Crabby right, for hitting the horse!”

“Yes, but he and the lady may be killed!”

Such were some of the cries.  As soon as they could recover, the whole party made after the carnage, now disappearing around a bend.

“They’ll never get around the next time alive!” said Captain Harry Blossom, who was running beside Tom.  Soon Dick joined the pair.

In the meantime Josiah Crabtree was filled with terror over the sudden turn of affairs.  He dropped the whip and tugged first at one rein and then the other.

“Whoa! whoa!” he cried in a hoarse whisper.  “Whoa!”

But instead of slackening their speed, the team moved on faster than ever, the carriage rocking violently from side to side.

“We will be killed!” moaned Mrs. Stanhope.  “Oh, why did I not take Dora’s advice and have a regular wedding, as she proposed!”

“I will —­ will stop them!” panted Crabtree.  “Whoa, you brutes, whoa!”

“Whoa, Peter; whoa, Jack!” added Mrs. Stanhope timidly.

For an instant the horses seemed to take notice of the lady’s voice, but only for an instant; then they went on as fast as ever, around another bend, and down a rocky stretch, lined on either side with trees and bushes.

Suddenly there came a crash, as a wheel came off the carriage.  Then came a second crash and Mrs. Stanhope was hurled forth among some bushes.  But the turnout continued on its way, Josiah Crabtree clinging to the wreck, until at last he too was hurled forth, to fly up among some tree branches and remain there for the best part of ten minutes.

When the crowd of cadets reached Mrs. Stanhope they found the lady unconscious and evidently suffering from a broken arm.  Several of them, including Dick, Tom, and Sam, did what they could for her, while others ran off to find Josiah Crabtree and to summon a doctor.

It was several minutes before the head assistant at Putnam Hall could be helped out of the tree.  He came down in fear and trembling, so overcome he could scarcely stand.

“How —­ how is Mrs. Stanhope?” was his, first question.

“We don’t know,” answered several of the cadets, and Josiah Crabtree hobbled back to find out...