rison after an instant.

"No sir, I think not--I believe not."

"Can you stand up?"

With the help of his hand she could do it easily. She stood silent,
supported by him, looking on the prostrate horses and shattered
curricle; then turned her grave eyes on the doctor.

"Don't stand too long, Miss Faith!" said Sam earnestly, with trembling
lips too, for the manhood in him had not got very far. "Are you _sure_
you're not hurt?"

"Sam!" said Faith giving her hand to him.--"I didn't know it was you
who was helping me."

"I only wish I'd been here for you to fall upon!" said Sam, with a
queer mingling of grief and pleasure. "Seems as if folks couldn't
always be in just the right place."

"I am not hurt," she said with a little shudder.

"Now, how are you going to do to get home?" said the doctor looking
much concerned. "Shall I--"

"I will walk home," she said interrupting him.

"You are not able! We are three miles, at least, from Mrs. Derrick's
house. You could not bear it."

"I can walk three miles," she said with a faint, fair smile. "I will go
home with Sam, and you can take care of the horses."

"That would be a tolerably backhanded arrangement!" said the
doctor.--"Young man, will you bring these horses into town for
me--after I get them on their legs--to Judge Harrison's, or
anywhere?--I must take care of this lady and see her safe."

"Yes--I'll bring 'em into town," said Sam, "but Miss Faith's to be seen
to first--if they don't get on their legs all night! _That_'ll be a
work of time, I take it. Miss Faith--could you walk just a little
way?--there's a house there, and maybe a wagon."

"You don't understand me," said the doctor. "I asked if you would do me
the favour to bring my horses into town. _I_ will take care of the
lady."

Sam considered a minute--not the doctor but things.

"Miss Faith," he said, "I can run faster than you can walk, beyond all
calculation. If you'll keep warm here, I'll run till I find a
wagon--for if you don't ride and tell the story some one else
will,--and then there's two people will be worse hurt than you are.
You'd get home quickest so." Faith was about to speak but the doctor
prevented her.

"Then you refuse to take care of my horses?" he said. "I told you I
would take care of the lady."

"Bother the horses!" said Sam impatiently,--"who's to think about
horses with Miss Faith here frightened to death? I'm ready to drive 'em
all over creation, when I get ready, D