d; while the rider, wreathing his hands in the mane
of the noble animal, gave him a free spur, and plunged at once over the
struggling wretch, in whose cheek the glance of his hoof left a deep
gash.

The steed bounded forward; nor did the youth seek to restrain him,
though advancing full up the hill and in the teeth of his enemies.
Satisfied that he was approaching their station, the accomplices of the
foiled ruffian, who had seen the whole affray, sunk into the covert;
but, what was their mortification to perceive the traveller, though
without any true command over his steed, by an adroit use of the broker
bridle, so wheel him round as to bring him, in a few leaps, over the
very ground of the strife, and before the staggering robber had yet
fully arisen from the path. By this manoeuvre he placed himself in
advance of the now approaching banditti. Driving his spurs resolutely
and unsparingly into the flanks of his horse, while encouraging him with
well known words of cheer, he rushed over the scene of his late struggle
with a velocity that set all restraint at defiance--his late opponent
scarcely being able to put himself in safety. A couple of shots, that
whistled wide of the mark, announced his extrication from the
difficulty--but, to his surprise, his enemies had been at work behind
him, and the edge of the copse through which he was about to pass, was
blockaded with bars in like manner with the path in front. He heard the
shouts of the ruffians in the rear--he felt the danger, if not
impracticability of his pausing for the removal of the rails, and, in
the spirit which had heretofore marked his conduct, he determined upon
the most daring endeavor. Throwing off all restraint from his steed, and
fixing himself firmly in the stirrup and saddle, he plunged onward to
the leap, and, to the chagrin of the pursuers, who had relied much upon
the obstruction, and who now appeared in pursuit, the noble animal,
without a moment's reluctance, cleared it handsomely.

Another volley of shot rang in the ears of the youth, as he passed the
impediment, and he felt himself wounded in the side. The wound gave him
little concern at the moment, for, under the excitement of the strife,
he felt not even its smart; and, turning himself upon the saddle, he
drew one of his own weapons from its case, and discharging it, by way of
taunt, in the faces of the outlaws, laughed loud with the exulting
spirit of youth at the successful result of an