-wonder of wonders!--were some more people. A horse
stood, saddled and bridled, before the door of one of the houses, and a
man was just in the act of mounting. He did not seem to be a
particularly expert horseman, or his steed the most patient of animals;
for the former displayed his awkwardness in attempting to mount, and
the latter, as soon as he became aware of his master's intention,
kicked, and sprang aside. The man sought to quiet him, patted his
neck, and once more tried the difficult task of getting on his back;
but the sight of the approaching strangers now added to his clumsiness,
and rendered him even more helpless than before. He had scarcely put
his foot in the stirrup, when the animal pranced, kicked and reared,
jerking the reins from his owner's hands, and throwing him down on the
pavement; after which he started at full speed down the street,
directly towards the advancing party. As soon as the horse showed a
disposition to be restive, the girl had led the child close up against
the side of the house, and looking back at the strangers following her,
she observed an expression of contempt on the young man's face, as he
watched the awkward movements of the Brother; being himself a skilful
rider and able, with his supple yet powerful frame, to master even the
wildest horse.

When the man fell to the ground, and the unrestrained animal came
rapidly onward, the strangers also moved hastily aside. But the little
child had, in its fright, broken loose from the girl's hand, and ran
into the middle of the street to pick up a ball which had rolled from
its hand. A cry of horror broke from every lip, and in another moment
the child would have been dashed under the horse's hoofs as she stooped
to pick up the toy. But before the girl could reach the little one,
the strange gentleman, with one long stride, was on the spot, and had
seized the child in his arms. With a firm hand he grasped the reins,
and brought the terrified beast to a standstill by sheer strength. It
all happened so quickly that, looking at the child playing merrily with
its ball a moment after, one could almost have fancied it was all a
dream. The girl, who had turned as pale as death, was leaning against
the side of the house; but quickly regaining her self-control, she
hastened to her little charge, saying, with trembling voice, as she
shyly glanced at its preserver, "I thank you, sir; you have saved the
little one entrusted to me from