But Ben did not hear her , for he was off across the fields , riding as if life and death depended upon his speed . `` That boy will break his neck , '' said Mr. Paine , standing still to watch horse and rider go over the wall as if bent on instant destruction . `` No fear for Ben , he can ride any thing , and Lita was trained to leap , '' answered Miss Celia , falling back on the hay with a groan , for she had involuntarily raised her head to see her little squire dash away in gallant style . `` I should hope so ; regular jockey , that boy . Never see any thing like it out of a race-ground , '' and Farmer Paine strode on , still following with his eye the figures that went thundering over the bridge , up the hill , out of sight , leaving a cloud of cloud of dust behind . Now that his mistress was safe , Ben enjoyed that wild ride mightily , and so did the bay mare ; for Lita had good blood in her , and proved it that day by doing her three miles in a wonderfully short time . People jogging along in wagons and country carry-alls stared amazed as the reckless pair went by . Women , placidly doing their afternoon sewing at the front windows , dropped their needles to run out with exclamations of alarm , sure some one was being run away with ; children playing by the roadside scattered like chickens before a hawk , as Ben passed with a warning whoop , and baby-carriages were scrambled into door-yards with perilous rapidity at his approach . But when he clattered into town , intense interest was felt in this barefooted boy on the foaming steed , and a dozen voices asked , `` Who 's killed ? '' as he pulled up at the doctor 's gate . `` Jest drove off that way ; Mrs. Flynn 's baby 's in a fit , '' cried a stout lady from the piazza , never ceasing to rock , though several passers-by paused to hear the news , for she was a doctor 's wife , and used to the arrival of excited messengers from all quarters at all hours of the day and night . Deigning no reply to any one , Ben rode away , wishing he could leap a yawning gulf , scale a precipice , or ford a raging torrent , to prove his devotion to Miss Celia , and his skill in horsemanship . But no dangers beset his path , and he found the doctor pausing to water his tired horse at the very trough where Bab and Sancho had been discovered on that ever-memorable day . The story was quickly told , and , promising to be there as soon as possible , Dr. Mills drove on to relieve baby Flynn 's inner man , a little disturbed by a bit of soap and several buttons , upon which he had privately lunched while his mamma was busy at the wash-tub . Ben thanked his stars , as he had already done more than once , that he knew how to take care of a horse ; for he delayed by the watering-place long enough to wash out Lita 's mouth with a handful of wet grass , to let her have one swallow to clear her dusty throat , and then went slowly back over the breezy hills , patting and praising the good creature for her intelligence and speed . She knew well enough that she had been a clever little mare , and tossed her head , arched her glossy neck , and ambled daintily along , as conscious and coquettish as a pretty woman , looking round at her admiring rider to return his compliments by glance of affection , and caressing sniffs of a velvet nose at his bare feet . Miss Celia had been laid comfortably in bed by the farmer 's wife and daughter ; and , when the doctor arrived , bore the setting of her arm bravely . No other serious damage appeared , and bruises soon heal , so Ben was sent home to comfort Thorny with a good report , and ask the Squire to drive up in his big carry-all for her the next day , if she was able to be moved . Mrs. Moss had been wise enough to say nothing , but quietly made what preparations she could , and waited for tidings . Bab and Betty were away berrying , so no one had alarmed Thorny , and he had his afternoon nap in peace , -- an unusually long one , owing to the stillness which prevailed in the absence of the children ; and when he awoke he lay reading for a while before he began to wonder where every one was .
Lounging out to XXXXX , he found Ben and Lita reposing side by side on the fresh straw in the loose box , which had been made for her in the coach-house .
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