ldron. "They are very hardy animals, and then they are
very docile and gentle. Some of them are as gentle and sagacious as a
dog. I read a story in a book once of one that saved the life of a
child, by plunging into the water, and seizing the child by the clothes,
between his teeth, and bringing it safe to land. The child fell into the
water off of a steep bank, and the horse jumped after it."

[Illustration: THE SHETLAND PONY.]

Here is a picture of the horse which Waldron read about, climbing up the
bank of the stream, bringing the child.

The party returned from the fishing excursion about eight o'clock; but
as it was still half an hour before sunset, Mr. George proposed to take
a walk to one of the castles. The waiter at the hotel had told them that
he could give them a ticket, and then the porter at the castle would let
them in at the gate, and allow them to walk about the grounds and
around the castle, but they could not go into it, for the proprietor and
his family were residing there.

Accordingly, when the party reached the landing, at the end of their
excursion, they left the boat, and walking across the bridge, they took
their course towards the castle. The road was as smooth and hard as a
floor, but it was bordered by close stone walls on either side, with
trees overhanging them. At length, after one or two turnings, they came
to the great gate which led to the castle. The gateway was bordered on
each side with masses of trees and shrubbery, and just within it was a
small but very pretty house, built of stone. This was the porter's
lodge. When they came up to the gate, and looked through the bars of it,
a little barefooted girl came out from the door of the lodge, and opened
the gate to let them in.

On entering they found themselves at the commencement of a smoothly
gravelled avenue, which led in a winding direction among the trees
through a beautiful park. They walked on along this avenue, supposing
that it would lead them to the castle. They passed various paths which
branched off here and there from the avenue, and seemed to lead in
various directions about the grounds. The views which presented
themselves on every side were varied and beautiful. They saw several
hares leaping about upon the grass--a sight which attracted the
attention of the boys very strongly.

At length they came in sight of the castle. It stood on a swell of
ground, at the foot of a high hill. The body of it consisted in part o