ght? A human being had appeared out of nowhere in the midst of its
haunts. The wild horse stopped short for an instant, then gave a long
neigh to its companions. The other horses ceased their charge; they,
too, sniffed the air with the same attitude of surprise and hesitation.
Some of them pawed the ground in front of them.

Phil, from her position in the tree, could see everything that
happened. She thought she was experiencing a nightmare, or else that
she had beheld an apparition which had come out of the pages of her
ancient mythology.

To Phil's amazement, Madge stood still during the brief instant when
the horses hesitated. It was then she might have saved herself, but she
lingered for an instant, then turned to run.

The leader of the drove of horses had made up his mind that he had
nothing to fear from the wood-nymph that had tried to block his path.
He tossed his shaggy head, giving the signal to his company. The entire
troop started on a wild gallop through the avenue of trees. Madge was
directly in front of their charge.

Blind fear overtook her. She ran without seeing where she was going.
She knew she was about to be run down by a stampede of wild horses, and
in her terror she stumbled, then fell headlong. She could hear the
horses galloping straight on. There was no time for her to struggle to
her feet. She lay face downward, expecting each moment to be trampled
to death.

Phyllis took in the whole situation. From her safe vantage in the tree,
even more certainly than Madge, she realized the fate that must soon
overtake her chum.

Phil's tree was only a few yards from the place where Madge had fallen.
Without an instant's hesitation Phyllis Alden dropped to the ground.
She must have made one flying leap, for she landed in front of the
little captain's prostrate body. If Madge were to be trampled to death,
that fate should not come to her alone.

Phil had marvelous presence of mind. What she did she must have done by
instinct. There was no time to think. She saw the flecks of white foam
between the teeth of the horse that was leading the charge. As it bore
down upon her Phyllis lifted up both arms. She gave a wild and
unexpected shout, waving both arms frantically before the horse's face.

The horse paused for the fraction of a moment. Phil waved more
violently than ever, shouting hoarsely and in more commanding tones.
The horse was startled. He looked at Phil with his ears erect and his
eyes restl