nished vexation and she
exclaimed:

"You poor fellow! I don't believe Matty meant you to have that beast.
But, come on, anyway. Maybe he'll warm up after a bit, and I'll take
that back--that I said about your riding. I reckon you're all right.
Anybody must be who can stick on the rack-o'-bones you've got. Touch him
up a little--I'll set the pace."

Away she sped while the gaunt creature which Leslie bestrode planted his
forefeet firmly on the ground and refused to lift them thence. Molly was
fast passing around a curve in the road and would then be out of sight,
and Leslie's temper rose to its height. He forgot everything except his
own awkward position and the fact that his lively young guest could have
the laugh on him when that night's tale was told.

"Oh! you hateful beast! You won't go, eh? Well, go you shall! Hear me?
Take that--and that--and--THAT!"

Blows rained hard and fast, till the lash of the whip gave out, and the
butt took its place. Then, as if the astonished horse had just aroused
to the state of things, it bolted! and the way its old heels picked up
that road was the most amazing thing of all that evening's happenings.

Then, indeed, did Leslie prove himself a better horseman than he looked,
and, for all time to come, his full ability to "stick." Riding ahead at
a smart pace, but not her pony's best, Molly heard the footfalls behind
her and swerved out of the way--not a minute too soon! Evidently, the
maligned "rack-o'-bones" would otherwise have ridden her down. He passed
her like a whirlwind and then--she after him. Followed, a race to be
remembered! The big horse keeping the lead, the little "calico"
pit-pattering along behind in a hopeless effort to get even.

Thus for what seemed an endless time, the long dusty road was desolate
of any travellers except this pair of runaways. Sometimes a coyote
yelped in the distance; occasionally some creeping thing barred the
track before them; and a screech owl sent its blood-curdling cries into
their ears. Otherwise they were alone in the wilderness and the night,
and beyond speaking distance even of one another.

The effect was to set each culprit thinking. How wild a thing they had
done! How thoughtless, how selfish! What fresh anxiety they had added to
the troubled hearts back there at "Roderick's," as soon as their absence
was discovered! How flat their jolly adventure had fallen!

Molly had bound Mattie to secrecy, and there was that about the wes