is young master back to the edge of the saddle, from which he fell
with such force that he lay on the ground senseless, his fair hair
streaming back, his blue eyes closed, while the great hunter went
thundering on his way.

Sally did not cry out nor lack for nerve. The finer part of her nature
came to her help, as it always will where it but exists, and she felt
the thrill of courage that is worth very much when prompt action is
needed.

As she slipped from the tree the thought went through her mind:

"If he is killed, straight I must go to the great house and tell what I
have seen. If he is but stunned, then must I do what I can to help him."

She bent over and could see that he was breathing. Like a flash she
darted across to the house, caught up a dipper and filled it from the
water-pail. Then back she sped and with hands that trembled bathed
forehead and face, and dropped sprays of water into the parted lips.
Then she rubbed his hands and again sprinkled his brow.

Before long the eyes unclosed and fastened dreamily on the ministering
maiden. But neither spoke. The eyes remained open, and began to rove a
little. Sally saw that speech would come in a moment more.

But at that instant the sound of hurrying hoofs echoed in the distance,
several of them, it seemed, and like a startled deer Sally turned, and
before Bill, the groom, Corniel, and Sam Spruce rushed up to the spot
where lay their young master, she was panting on her seat in the
oak-tree.

CHAPTER XII.

WHO WAS SHE?

The colored servants had with them strong cordials that soon brought
Lionel to himself.

No bones were broken, but he was lame and bruised, and it was some time
before he could mount the gentle animal Sam Spruce had ridden in going
forth to find him. Sally saw in a moment that it was Lord Rollin, the
horse Lionel had used when riding with his cousin Rosamond.

Hotspur, after a mad gallop, had raced back riderless to the stables,
stirrups dangling and saddle awry. This had sent the men out in hot
haste to find out what had happened.

As soon as Lionel was fairly recovered, he looked all around.

"Where is the beautiful creature that gave me water?" he asked.

"No one gave you water, Mars' Li'nel," said the well-spoken Sam Spruce.
"We fetched cordial that brought you to."

"Yes, yes, I know that," Lionel replied, "but who was the lovely being
all in white, with hair like the sun, eyes like stars, lips like
cherries and wi