the soul of our youthful hero.

The course of the road was by the river's side for nearly half a mile,
and crossed the stream at a wooden bridge but a few rods from the
place where the boys were fishing.

Bobby Bright's impulses were noble and generous; and without stopping
to consider the peril to which the attempt would expose him, he boldly
resolved to stop that horse, or let the animal dash him to pieces on
the bridge.

"Now or never!" shouted he, as he leaped from the rock, and ran with
all his might to the bridge.

The shrieks of the lady rang in his ears, and seemed to command him,
with an authority which he could not resist, to stop the horse. There
was no time for deliberation; and, indeed, Bobby did not want any
deliberation. The lady was in danger; if the horse's flight was not
checked, she would be dashed in pieces; and what then could excuse him
for neglecting his duty? Not the fear of broken limbs, of mangled
flesh, or even of a sudden and violent death.

It is true Bobby did not think of any of these things; though, if he
had, it would have made no difference with him. He was a boy who would
not fight except in self-defence, but he had the courage to do a deed
which might have made the stoutest heart tremble with terror.

Grasping a broken rail as he leaped over the fence, he planted himself
in the middle of the bridge, which was not more than half as wide as
the road at each end of it, to await the coming of the furious
animal. On he came, and the piercing shrieks of the affrighted lady
nerved him to the performance of his perilous duty.

The horse approached him at a mad run, and his feet struck the loose
planks of the bridge. The brave boy then raised his big club, and
brandished it with all his might in the air. Probably the horse did
not mean anything very bad; was only frightened, and had no wicked
intentions towards the lady; so that when a new danger menaced him in
front, he stopped suddenly, and with so much violence as to throw the
lady forward from her seat upon the dasher of the chaise. He gave a
long snort, which was his way of expressing his fear. He was evidently
astonished at the sudden barrier to his further progress, and
commenced running back.

"Save me!" screamed the lady.

"I will, ma'am; don't be scared!" replied Bobby, confidently, as he
dropped his club, and grasped the bridle of the horse, just as he was
on the point of whirling round to escape by the way he had come.