d carriage. It was a good time to consider whether he had acted
wisely in demanding more than the law or custom allowed him, but Philip
was too angry for cool consideration.

He could not persuade himself that a boy like Harry, the son of a poor
widow, who had to work for his own living, had equal rights with
himself.

In the end he had to go home and bring back his father's hired man to
take charge of the wreck. He learned that the frightened horse had
already found his way to the stable, terrifying the family with fears
that Philip had been seriously hurt on the way.

Philip gave a garbled account of the affair to his father and mother,
and excited the indignation of both, but especially his mother.

"I never heard of such an outrage--never!" exclaimed Mrs. Ross,
emphatically. "To think that boy should deliberately run into you and
endanger your life--my poor Philip!"

"That's just what he did, mother," said Philip, enjoying the indignation
he had aroused.

Colonel Ross was not quite so thoroughly convinced that his son was
right.

"Did you give Harry half the road?" he inquired.

"I gave him room enough to get by," answered Philip, evasively.

"The law requires that you should give him half the road."

"I hope, Mr. Ross, you don't justify that horrid boy in running into
Philip?" said Mrs. Ross, sharply.

"No, my dear; I consider that he acted very badly. But, in Order to make
him amenable to the law for the damage Philip's team suffered, it must
appear that Philip gave him half the road."

"Then the law ought to be altered," said Mrs. Ross, with more anger than
reason. "I've no doubt that Philip gave him all the room he needed."

"When you were thrown out, did the heartless boy ride on and leave you
to your fate?" asked the mother.

"No; he got out and asked me if I was hurt," Philip admitted,
reluctantly.

"Much he cared!" said Mrs. Ross, contemptuously.

"I suppose he was afraid he would be put in prison if I was killed,"
said Philip.

"Yes, that was his motive, undoubtedly. He didn't offer to help you, I
suppose?"

"No; I asked him to, and he wouldn't," answered Philip, glad that he
could blacken poor Harry's character.

"The unfeeling young villain!" ejaculated Mrs. Ross. "He ought to be put
in the State's prison!"

"Do you think he can be?" asked Philip, eagerly.

"Of course he can, if your father exerts himself as he ought."

"Nonsense, Lucinda!" said Colonel Ross, who was not a foo