, whom he had
relieved, come running up to his assistance, and seeing the danger of
his benefactor, laid the dog dead at his feet by a furious stroke of his
broadsword.

Tommy, thus delivered from impending danger, expressed his gratitude to
the stranger in the most affectionate manner, and desired him to
accompany him to his father's house, where he and his wearied children
should receive whatever refreshment they wished. He then turned his eyes
to the lamb, which had been the cause of the contest, and lay panting
upon the ground bleeding and wounded, but not to death, and remarked,
with astonishment, upon his fleece the well-known characters of H.S.,
accompanied with a cross. "As I live," said Tommy, "I believe this is
the very lamb which Harry used to be so fond of, and which would
sometimes follow him to Mr Barlow's. I am the luckiest fellow in the
world, to have come in time to deliver him, and now, perhaps, Harry may
forgive me all the ill-usage he has met with." Saying this, he took the
lamb up and kissed it with the greatest tenderness; nay, he would have
even borne it home in his arms had it not been rather too heavy for his
strength; but the honest stranger, with a grateful officiousness,
offered his services, and prevailed on Tommy to let him carry it, while
he delivered his child to the biggest of his brothers.

When Tommy had now arrived within a little distance of his home he met
his father and Mr Barlow, who had left the house to enjoy the morning
air, before breakfast. They were surprised to see him in such an
equipage, for the dirt, which had bespattered him from head to foot,
began to dry in various places, and gave him the appearance of a
farmer's clay-built wall in the act of hardening. But Tommy without
giving them time to make inquiries, ran affectionately up to Mr Barlow,
and taking him by the hand, said, "Oh, sir! here is the luckiest
accident in the world! poor Harry Sandford's favourite lamb would have
been killed by a great mischievous dog, if I had not happened to come by
and save his life!" "And who is this honest man," said Mr Merton, "whom
you have picked up on the common? He seems to be in distress, and his
famished children are scarcely able to drag themselves along."

"Poor man!" answered Tommy, "I am very much obliged to him; for, when I
went to save Harry's lamb, the dog attacked me, and would have hurt me
very much if he had not come to my assistance and killed him with his
great