. At the place where the path went down
and crossed the brook, a deep cut had been worn in the two opposite
banks, and this was filled with water, and above and below the stream
rushed on in a torrent. Jonas hesitated a moment, and then asked Rollo
if he thought he could hold on, while they we're riding through. Rollo
said he was afraid it was so deep as to drown them. Jonas then said that
he might get off and stand upon a rock by the side of the path, while he
rode through, first, to see how it was, and that then he would come back
for him.

So Rollo got off, in fear and trembling, and stood on the rock, while
Jonas urged his horse into the water. Old Trumpeter did not much like
this kind of travelling, but Jonas half persuaded and half compelled him
to go through. When he was in the middle, the water came up so high,
that Jonas was obliged to lift up his feet to keep them from being wet.
Presently, however, it became more shoal, as the horse walked slowly
along; and at last he fairly reached the dry ground, and stood dripping
on the bank.

Rollo was glad to see that the water was no deeper, but was still
afraid to go over. He told Jonas he _could not_ go over I here, and that
he _must_ go back with him.

"No," said Jonas, "that would not be right."

"Why," said Rollo, "we can ride fast, and overtake them."

"Not very soon," said Jonas. "If we go back now, they will get to the
mill before us, and then will be very anxious and unhappy, thinking that
something has happened to us; and perhaps your father will come through
here after us. Now it was your own plan, coming across here, and you
ought not to make other people suffer by it. Your father advised you not
to come."

"I know it," said Rollo; "what a foolish boy I was! I shall certainly be
drowned."

"O no," said Jonas, "there is no real danger, or I should not make you
go;" and so saying, he came back slowly through the water. "See," said
he, "it is not very deep."

LITTLE MOSETTE

After some further persuasion Rollo got on behind him, and they began to
in make their way slowly through the water again. Old Trumpeter
staggered along, but not very unsteadily on the whole, until he got a
little past the middle, when he blundered upon a stone on the bottom,
which he could not see, and fell down on his knees. Jonas caught up his
feet, in an instant, and Rollo had his already drawn up behind him, and
they both grasped the saddle convulsively. The horse happ