pass.

"I--I--never--rode much," he managed to articulate.

"Indeed? you surprise me," cried Sarah, carefully committing the
trifling mistake of touching his horse with the tip of her whip.

The animal leaped into the air, breaking so suddenly into a gallop that
Mr. Kerchey barely escaped being thrown to the ground.

"Whoa--_whoa_--_whoa_!" he ejaculated, in an agitated voice, letting go
one of the reins, in his confusion.

The horse dashed to the corner of the fence, and stopped so suddenly
that Mr. Kerchey, thrown clear over the pommel of the saddle, rested on
his neck. Fortunately, having come to this stand, the animal did not
move until he had had time to regain his seat; for, as it was, had it
not been for the proximity of the rails, on which he braced his hands,
the rider must have plunged head foremost to the ground.

Sweating a cold sweat, and trembling in every limb, Mr. Kerchey seized
both reins, one in each hand, resolved to hold the animal "in," at all
hazards.

"Whoa--whoa--whoa!" he kept repeating, in tremulous tones, as he once
more got into the road.

Sarah choked with emotion.

"Wouldn't you like a whip!" she asked, as soon as she could summon
sufficient gravity to speak.

"Oh--no--thank you," gasped Mr. Kerchey.

"You'd better. You'll manage your horse much more easily with one. Will
you take mine?"

Sarah rode up to him, and extended the frightful whip, at sight of which
Mr. Kerchey's horse bounded to the side of the road like a frightened
deer. Off flew his hat; his hands grasped saddle and mane; and he cried
"Whoa--whoa!" again, with all the energy of fear.

But some horses, after submitting to a degree of insult, will have their
revenge. Mr. Kerchey's thought he would try what virtue there was in
running away. Thanks to his feet, thrust ankle-deep in the stirrups, the
rider kept his seat this time, but he could not manage the reins and
keep his hold of the saddle at the same time. He went by the amazed
party of equestrians on the speed of the wind. The horse turned up to the
meeting-house, and made for one of the sheds.

"He'll break his head!" cried Sarah, terrified at the mischief she had
done, reining up to Chester's side.

Chester spurred forward, to do what he could to avert so uncomfortable
an accident. But already Mr. Kerchey saw his danger, and pulled the
bridle with his left hand, still clinging to the saddle with his right.
The horse was sufficiently under control to o