was strong, and I found it no easy matter to hold the brute,
and restrain its savage attempts to catch some part of my person
between its jaws. But just at the moment when I thought I could hold
on no longer, and should be compelled to relinquish my grasp, and
while tumbling over and over in the dust, a voice cried out--while I
could hear rapid steps approaching,--'Hold on; I'll be with you in a
minute;' and almost at the same instant the dog was pulled from my
grasp, and a heavy whip descended upon its back and flanks, causing it
to yell out so lustily that the wood echoed again.

"By the time I had risen to my feet, and shaken some of the dust from
my clothes, the dog had run howling away, while as pretty a looking
little girl as ever I saw was clinging round the neck of a tall
gentleman, who was endeavouring to hush her terrified sobs. This was
soon accomplished, for what child does not feel safe in its father's
arms? and the gentleman, turning to me, held out his hand, and, with a
smile, said,--

"'Let me thank you heartily and warmly for saving my little girl from
that savage dog.'

"'Oh, sir,' I replied, blushing up to the roots of my hair, 'it was
not much; I should have been a coward had I not done as I did.'

"'My little maid here does not think it was a mere nothing, neither do
I. I don't think many boys would have had the courage to do what you
did.'

"'I think, sir, that you can't know much about boys to say that, for I
could bring no end of a number who would have done the same thing;
aye, and better than I did.'

"'Well, I won't contradict you; but what is your name? and where do
you come from?'

"'My name, sir,' I replied, 'is Hall--Arthur Hall, and I am one of the
boys from Ascot House.'

"'But how is it you are here--I thought it was holiday-time?'

"'So it is, sir; but my friends are away on the Continent, and I am
staying at the school through the holidays.'

"How do you like it?'

"'Not at all; I am as lonely and miserable as a rat that has lost its
hole.'

"'Well, come up to the house and give your clothes a brush. I suppose
you know who I am?'

"'Yes, sir; you are Squire Aveling.'

"When we arrived at the house, Squire Aveling introduced me to his
wife, as beautiful and kind a lady as I have ever known, who, when she
heard what I had done, fairly kissed me as if I had been her own son.
Both the squire and his wife would not hear of my going away until
evening; so I stayed and ha