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upt bend in the road； where it shot aside from a steep descent in the ground； and Christopher had reached this point when he saw suddenly ahead of him a farm wagon driven forward at a reckless pace。 As it neared him he heard the wheels thunder on the rocky bed of the road； and saw that the driver's seat was vacant； the man evidently having been thrown some distance back。 The horsesa young pair he had never seen beforeheld the bits in their mouths； and it was with a hopelessness of checking their terrible speed that he stepped out of the road to give them room。 The next instant he saw that they were making straight for the declivity from which the road shot back； seeing in the same breath that the driver of the wagon； not falling clear； had entangled himself in the long reins and was being dragged rapidly beneath the wheels。 Tossing his axe aside； he sprang instantly at the horses' heads； hanging with his whole powerful weight upon their mouths。 Life or death was nothing to him at the moment； and he seemed to have only an impersonal interest in the multiplied sensations。 What followed was a sense of incalculable swiftness； a near glimpse of blue sky； the falling of stars around him in the road； and after these things a great darkness。
When he came to himself he was lying in a patch of short grass； with a little knot of men about him； among whom he recognised Jim Weatherby。 〃I brought them in； didn't I？〃 he asked； struggling up； and then he saw that his coat sleeves were rent from the armholes； leaving his arms bare beneath his torn blue shirt。 Cynthia's warning returned to him； and he laughed shortly。 〃Well； I reckon you could bring the devil in if you put all your grip on him；〃 was Jim's reply； 〃as it is； you're pretty sore； ain't you？〃 〃Oh； rather； but I wish I hadn't spoiled my coat。〃 He was still thinking of Cynthia。 〃God alive； man； it's a mercy you didn't spoil your life。 Why； another second and the horses would have been over that bank yonder； with you and young Fletcher under the wagon。〃
Christopher rose slowly from the ground and stood erect。
〃With meand who under the wagon？and who？〃 he asked in a throaty voice。
Jim Weatherby whistled。 〃Why； to think you didn't know all along！〃 he exclaimed。 〃It was Fletcher's boy； he made Zebbadee let him take the reins。 Fletcher saw it all and he was clean mad when he got hereit took three men to hold him。 He thinks more of that boy than he does of his own soul。 What's the matter； man； are you hurt？〃
Christopher had gone dead white； and the blue circle came out slowly around his mouth。 〃And I saved him！〃 he gasped。 〃I saved him！ Isn't there some mistake？ Maybe he's dead anyway！〃
〃Bless you； no；〃 responded Jim； a trifle disconcerted。 〃The doctor's here and he says it's a case of a broken leg instead of a broken neck； that's all。〃
Looking about him； Christopher saw that there was another group of men at a little distance； gathered around something that lay still and straight on the grass。 The sound of a hoarse groan reached him suddenlyan inarticulate cry of distressand he felt with a savage joy that it was from Fletcher。 He looked down； drawing together his tattered sleeves。 For a time he was silent； and when he spoke it was with a sneering laugh。
〃Well； I've been a fool； that's all；〃 was what he said。
CHAPTER V。 The Glimpse of a Bride
The next morning he awoke with stiffened limbs and confusion in his head； and for a time he lay idly looking at his little window…panes； beyond which the dawn hung like a curtain。 Then； as a long finger of sunlight pointed through the glass； he rose with an effort and； dressing himself hastily； went downstairs to breakfast。 Here he found that Zebbadee Blake； who had promised to help him cut his crop； had not yet appeared； owing probably to the excitement of Fletcher's runaway。 The man's absence annoyed him at first； and then； as the day broke clear and cold； he succumbed to his ever present fear of frost and； taking his pruning…knife from the kitchen mantelpiece； went out alone to begin work on his ripest plants。
The sun had already tempered the morning chill in the air； and the slanting beams stretched over the tobacco； which； as the dew dried； showed a vivid green but faintly tinged with yellowa colour that even in the sparkling sunlight appeared always slightly shadowed。 To attempt alone the cutting of his crop； small as it was； seemed； with his stiffened limbs； a particularly trying task； and for a moment he stood gazing wearily across the field。 Presently； with a deliberate movement as if he were stooping to shoulder a fresh burden； he slit the first ripe stalk from its flaunting top to within a hand's…breadth of the ground； then； cutting it half through near the roots； he let it fall to one side； where it hung； slowly wilting； on the earth。 Gradually； as he applied himself to the work； the old zest of healthful labour returned to him； and he passed buoyantly through the narrow aisle； leaving a devastated furrow on either side。 It was a cheerful picture he presented； when Tucker； dragging himself heavily from the house； came to the ragged edge of the field and sat down on an old moss…grown stump。 〃Where's Zebbadee； Christopher？〃 〃 He didn't turn up。 It was that affair of the accident； probably。 Fletcher berated him； I reckon。〃 〃So you've got to cut it all yourself。 Well； it's a first…rate cropthe very primings ought to be as good as some top leaves。〃 〃The crop's all right；〃 responded Christopher； as his knife passed with a ripping noise down the juicy stalk。 〃You know I made a fool of myself yesterday； Uncle Tucker；〃 he said suddenly； drawing back when the plant fell slowly across the furrow； 〃and I'm so stiff in the joints this morning I can hardly move。 I met one of Fletcher's farm wagons running away； with his boy dragged by the reins； andI stopped it。〃 Tucker turned his mild blue eyes upon him。 Since the news of Appomattox nothing had surprised him； and he was not surprised nowhe was merely interested。 〃You couldn't have helped it； I suspect；〃 he remarked。
〃I didn't know whose it was； you see；〃 answered Christopher； 〃the horses were new。〃 〃You'd have done it anyway； I reckon。 At such moments it's a man's mettle that counts； you know； and not his emotions。 You might have hated Fletcher ten times worse； but you'd have risked your life to stop the horses all the same because； after all； what a man is is something different from how he feels about things。 It's in your blood to dare everything whenever a chance offers； as it was in your father's before you。 Why； I've seen him stop on the way to a ball； pull off his coat； and go up a burning ladder to save a woman's pet canary； and then； when the crowd hurrahed him； I've laughed because I knew he deserved nothing of the kind。 With him it wasn't courage so much as his inborn love of violent actionit cleared his head； he used to say。〃 Christopher stopped cutting； straightened himself； and held his knife loosely in his hand。 〃That's about it； I reckon；〃 he returned。 〃I know I'm not a bit of a heroif I'd been in your place I'd have shown up long ago for a skulking cowardbut it's the excitement of the moment that I like。 Why； there's nothing in life I'd enjoy so much as