an our expectings or deservings," said the
old woman kindly, as she put another log on the fire. "See what a
splendid load of wood He's sent me for the winter, and then He sent you
along, just in time to stow it away. As I get older my prayers always
seem turned to praise before I've done, there's so much to be glad for."

Dick slept soundly on the old sofa, with Pat curled up at his feet, but
he woke next morning in time to light the fire and put the kettle on,
before Mrs. Grey came down. And, looking at his bright face and seeing
his handy ways, she felt almost inclined to keep Pat _and_ his master.

But after breakfast they started at once, Dick's jacket pockets stuffed
full of provisions and the threepenny bit jingling merrily against
Paddy's half-crown. But there was no chance of earning more that day,
and they had to sleep in the loose hay at the foot of a hay rick,
belonging to a distant farm.

Fortunately the wind had changed and the weather was warmer, and they
were none the worse for the camping out.

Dick was trudging manfully on a day or two afterwards, hoping to reach
the town of Weyn before nightfall, when a lumbering carrier's waggon
with a black canvas roof came jolting along, at a great rate, behind.
"Steady, there! Whoa, I say. What ails thee now? Steady!"

The big brown horse was pulling and straining at the bit and looking
very wild, while the driver tugged at the reins in a frantic attempt to
pull up, and two women passengers inside the van began to scream.

Without a thought of danger Lionheart sprang from the side of the road
and dashed towards the horse's head, clutching at the reins, and a farm
labourer, coming in the opposite direction, threw up his arms in front.

[Illustration: "WITHOUT A THOUGHT OF DANGER, LIONHEART DASHED TOWARDS
THE HORSE'S HEAD."]

Startled by this double onslaught the horse swerved and then stood
still, trembling with fright.

"It's the strap!" cried Dick, breathlessly. "See, that strap has
broken and the end was flicking his side, and that frightened him."

"Sure enough, and I couldn't think what ailed him," cried the driver,
wiping the perspiration from his brow. "Seven years I've had Boxer,
and he never played me that trick afore. I'm very much obliged to ye,
my brave lad, and you too, friend, and I'll stand a shilling apiece and
thankful. The canal bridge is just a half mile further on, and if he
hadn't been stopped and the bridge had chanced to