The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-06-22

seat as possible; and all his pre-
cautions were necessary, for
'ThunderboIt' Ieaped to ono side as
he shot by the wagons. The boy
swayed fearfully; but be stuck,
and then the colt rose high in the
air, his front feet paving out, his
whole figure the picture of terrible
beauty. Fred bad reached that
pitch where it was impossible for
him to fear anything; he was too
thoroughly filed with excitement;
but be was afraid that Thunder
bolt would now 'cut up some Of
his antics,' and thus delay arrival
in Northport. He pulled sharply
at the lines and pounded bis
heels into the horses sides, CALI
ing out authoritatively to him.
The man on the last wagon had
! jumped down from his seat and
was running up.
Don't touch him! cried out
| Fred, who was anxious above all
things not to be detained, and
whose blood was by this time
boiling, and who felt IS if he could
be a match for q hundred 'Thun-
derbolts.'
The man fell back from before
the paving teet, looking in
amazement at the iery-eyed boy
who sat upon the horse. On the
second tone of sharp command, as
if in surprise, dropped his feot and
darted away, leaving the man
staring.
Good graciousp he exclaimed,
as be walked back to his wagon.
Was that ERE a real horse'n' boy,
or a appearance ? l hope 'taint q
forewsrnir' of nothin''
When Fred passed through the
next village the clock was strik-
ing the hour, and the sound sent
a thrill Of apprehension through
him, for it was ten minutes later
than the time at which be had
calculated 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 q fatal slowness
that might be. Fred thought of
Clara ; of her father stepping on
board the boat never to see her
again =; and then came q remem-
brance of a cart path which went
across q piece Of woodland and
came out on the main road almost
a mile nearer Northport than it
way by the travelled way. The
path must be close by here. He
was sure be had not passed it aud
there it was. Without hesitation,
be turned his horses head in that
direction and rode on beneath the
low-drooping trees. More than
half way through he saw ahead Of
him a fallen tree, lying directly
across the way. Can you imagine
the papg that wont through the
boys heart, as be saw that? No
time to 60 back, and on each side
thickIy-growing wood, filed with
heavy growth of brier and un-
derbrusb. Again he thought of
the girl lying at bome there and
moaning and calling for her IA
ther, and he resolved to try. He
no more remembered himself than
| if be could not be hurt.
Go on. Thunder + he shouted.
The colt was not half-broken in
any way. He knew nothing of
leaping; but be saw that there
was 90 obstacle before him and
his instinct was to jump over it.
He few on he gathered his four
legs under him, be rose in the air
like some winged thing, and went
over the tree and landed oD the
other side without having touch.
ed a twig Of it. As for Fred, was
there any breath left him? He
thought that it did not come back
for several minutes after the
horse had landed; out be was
conscious of swelling sense o1
magnificent triumph. The colt
was as wet as if be had been in
the water; the perspiratlon drop
ped off him as be went and bis
blazing eyes protruded and seem
I'd to emit sparks.
Three minutes later, the horse
and rider had entered the out
skirts of Northport. Thunder
bolt was running now. Every
body stood and gazed. 1t was as
if some demon norse had gone by
Did he have wings, or was 1t 8