The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-01-13


 per of the young horse was, and he knew that he might take a notion 10 stop and kick and throw himself about. that he might unseat the rider; and he knew al 1 so that Thunderbol,. If he chose, might 1, cover ten miles in SO short time that he might hope 10 reach Northport in sea son.
 Mrs. Morris. sitting by the insensible g,rl. heard the rush of the horses feet as he went out of the yard. and an inaudi- ble prayer was in her heart. She glanced at the clock which ticked on the man;el and she told herself the thing the boy was trying to do was impossible. She knew that Thunderbo!, had made great speed. and that he promised wonderful things if he could be trained: but how could he have sufficient endurance for this trial. and how would he go over the hills that lay between this and North port. No, she must not hope tha, her brother would be brought back. He would sail. and every hour would take him further from the child he idolized and who had met such a fr,e. As the moments went on, and the girl vas quiet under the influence of the oplate the doc tors had given her, Mrs. Morris thoughts dwcl, more on the courage of the boy who had just ridden away. She knew that no man would have liked that ridc. and that il was dangerous to any one. Then she fell to fearing that she ought not to have allowed hun to go.
 What if he should be thrown and be brought home crippled or deadg But it had all been so sudde, that she did not stop him. There was no man about the place. Her husband and the hired man were two miles away, attending to some late cut grass. They would not be a, home until dark. Mrs Morris must do what omany women have 10 do- wait and pray.
 Along the narrow country road Fred. Appleton was riding a, pace tha, made him breathless at first, and his heart was beating all through him in way iha, iei, as if i, would kill him; but he had no though, of aba,ing his pace. That must not be.
 There was not bfaver boy fer many mile than Fred. Appleton. and he had made up his mind that Ii would take a powerful effort to ge, him of Thunder bolts back. Had he been in more TO- bust health he might have enjoyed thts furious start. As t was. after few mo- menis when the colt had settled down in- to its tremendous stride. Fred. grew ac- eustomed 10 thus eieaving the saltry tir. and sat more securely, while he icii that savage exulta,,on which comes ;o one sit ting on an animal who seems 10 have power to ann,hila,e space.
 Fred. flung up has hand and uttered d shtill whoop. He VAS monarch of Il force as good as any m the .'Arabian Nights. He wouti ID, esehanae- h's seat on Thunderbol; for any magical g'!t in tha, book Al the sound oi his cry the colt lufehed fAf@asd sttii faster ;,isss snoued IS If the heavy fragrant ltmos- pAere were something whien made him drunk.
 Already they had pa,scd ;h;nash one village, which was three miles away from the farm house he had letl. he boy by this time tilled with the iuebriation of his strange ride. He wanted to go faster and faster His cheeks were rec. and his eyes burned.
 He told himself that he must reach Bucket Village by a certain tune. Bucket Village was halt way to Norihport. l, was place where the whole business was making wooden pals of diiieren, kinds.
 Now. lust 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 him. self as strong h his seat as possible; and all his precautions were necessary, for Thudderboli leaped to one side as he shot by the wagon. The boy swayed fcarfully, but he stuck. and then the colt rose high Tn the air. his front feet paw ing, out, his whole figure the picture of terrible beauty. Fred. had reached the pitch where |, was impossible for hlm 10 fear anything, he was too thoroughly filled with excitement, but he was afraid that Thunderbolt would now "out up some of his antics" and thus delay their arrival in Norhport. He pulled sharply at the lines and pounded his. heels into the horses sides, calling out authoritatveiy 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 as if he could be a match for q hundred Thur derbolts.
 The man fell back from before the paving feet. looking in ama1ement al the hcp eyed boy who sat upon tho horse.
 On the second tone of sharp command the colt. as if in surprise. dropped hls fee, ard daried away, leaving the mar staring.
 Good gracious :" he exclaimed, as ht walked back to his wagon. -Was tha ere :al horse an boy, or appear ance: hope 'taInt forewarnin' ol no,hin'. .'
 When Fred passed through the next vii lage the clock was striking the hour ane the sound sent thrill of apprehension