Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-04-20

otoAcomc 4SaI hS u5 OtnefWlSe WOulQ
have done.
When the boy entered the barn, a
shrin whinny greeted him, and long,
black head, with big, wild-looking eyes,
was turned toward him from one of the
stalls. Fred, as he had said, had no
time to lose. He could not stop to
think whether he wished to go in the
stall or not. He stepped in quickly,
with the bride on his arm, and in two
minutes more the saddle was on the
horses back, and the boy had flung him
on also and gathered up the reins. He
knew how fierce of temper the young
horse was, and he knew that it might
take the notion to stop and kick and
throw himself about, so that he might
unseat his rider, and he knew also that
''Thunderbolt," if he chose, might cover
ten miles in so short o time that he
might hope to reach Northport in
season.
Mrs. Morris, sitting by the insensible
girl, heard the rush of the horses feet,
as they went out Of the yard, and an in
audible prayer was in her heart She
glanced at the clock which was ticking
On the mantel. and she told herself the
thing the boy was trying to do was i'm
possible. There was not braver boy
for many mile than Fred Appleton,
and he had made up his mind that it
should take very powerful effort TO
get him off of "Thunderbolt's" back.
Had he been more robust in health he
might have enjoyed this furious start.
As it was, after few moments, when
the colt had settled down into its tre-
mendous stride, Fred grew accustomed
to thus cleaving the sultry air, and
sat more securely, while he felt
that savage exultation which comes
to one who sits on an animal who
seems to have power to annihilate
space.
Fred flung up his hand and uttered a
shrill whoop. He was monarch of
force as good as any in the "Arabian
Nights" He would not exchange his
seat on sThunderbolt' for any magical
gift in that book. At the sound OF his
cry the colt lurehed forward still faster
and snorted, as if the heavy, fragrant
atmosphere we're something which made
him drunk.
The boy told himself that he must
reach Bucket village by certain time
and Bucket village was halfway to
Northport. It vas place where the
whole business was the making of
wooden pals of different kinds. Now,
Just before he came to sharp turn in
the road, there emerged from round the
corner the first OF three tall, long
wagons, piled high with wooden pals.
Fred, warned by the pricking up Of
his horses ears, gathered the lines more
firmly in his hands and made himself as
strong on his seat as possible: and all
his precautions were necessary, for
"Thunderbolt" leaped to one side as he
shot by the wagons. The boy swayed fear
fully; but he stuck, and then the colt
rose high in the air, his front feet paw
ing out, his whole figure the picture Of
terrible beauty. Fred had reached that
pitch where it was impossible for him
to fear anything; he was too thoroughly
filed with excitement; but he was
afraid that ''Thunderbolt" would now
scut up some of his antics" and thus
delay arrival in Northport. He pulled
sharply at the lines and pounded his
| heels into the horses sides, calling out
authoritatively to him.
The man On the last wagon had Jump
ed down from his seat and was running
up.
"Don't touch himi" cried out Fred,
who was anxious above all things not to
be detained, and whose blood was by
this time boiling, and who fel6 as if he
could be match for hundred "Thun
derbolts."
The man fell back from before the
paving feet, looking in amazement at
the fery-eyed boy who sat upon the
horse. On the second tone OF sharp
command, as if in surprise, dropped his
feet and darted away, leaving the man
staring.
"Good gracionslD he exclaimed, as
he walked back to his wagon. "Was
that ere a real horse n boy, or appear
ance? hope faint forewarnin' of
nothinl'
When Fred passed through the next
village the clock was striking the hour,
and the sound sent thrill of apprehen-
sion through him, for it was ten minutes
later than the time at which he had cal
culated to be in that place. He had
come fast enough; it was not that. 1t
must be that the clock at the farmhouse
had been slow, and what fatal slow
ness that might be. Fred thought Of
Clara Of her father stepping on board
the boat never to see her again and
then came a remembrance OF cart path
which went across piece Of woodland
and came ont on the main road almost
q mile nearer Northport than it was by
the travelled way. The path must be
close by here. He was sure he had not
passed il and there it was Without
hesitation, be turned his horses head in
that direction and rode on beneath the