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the full brilliancy and beauty of his application of
the mountain to their driver； when they reached the
pass itself。 The road was barely sufficient to suffer
two carriages to move by each other without
touching； being from necessity dug out of the base
of the mountain； a precipice of many feet led to the
river； which was high and turbulent at the time；
there was no railing nor any protection on the side
next the waterand in endeavouring to avoid the
unprotected side of the road； two wagons had met
a short time before； and one of them lost a wheel
in the encounterits owner had gone to a distance
for assistance； leaving the vehicle where it had
fallen。 The horses of Antonio； unaccustomed to
such a sight； were with some difficulty driven by
the loaded wagon； and when nearly past the object；
took a sudden fright at its top； which was flapping
in the wind。 All the skill and exertions of Antonio to
prevent their backing was useless； and carriage and
horses would inevitably have gone off the bank
together； had not Charles； with admirable presence
of mind； opened a door； and springing out； placed a
billet of wood； which had been used as a base for a
lever in lifting the broken wagon； under one of the
wheels。 This checked the horses until Antonio had
time to rally them； and； by using the whip with
energy； bring them into the road again。 He certainly
showed great dexterity as a coachman。 But；
unhappily； the movement of Charles had been
misunderstood by Julia； and； throwing open the
door； with the blindness of fear； she sprang from
the carriage also： it was on the side next the
water； and her first leap was over the bank； the hill
was not perpendicular； but too steep for Julia to
recover her balanceand partly running； and partly
falling； the unfortunate girl was plunged into the
rapid river。 Charles heard the screams of Miss
Emmerson； and caught a glimpse of the dress of
Julia as she sprang from the carriage。 He ran to the
bank just in time to see her fall into the water。
｛St。 Anthony's Nose = this incident probably
occurred at a place on the Mohawk River called
today The Noses； between Fonda and Palatine
Bridge； there is another St。 Anthony's Nose on the
Hudson River｝
〃Oh； God！〃 he cried； 〃Julia！my Julia！〃and； without
seeming to touch the earth； he flew down the bank；
and threw himself headlong into the stream。 His
great exertions and nervous arms soon brought him
alongside of Julia； and； happily for them both； an
eddy in the waters drew them to the land。 With
some difficulty Charles was enabled to reach the
shore with his burthen。
Julia was not insensible； nor in the least injured。
Her aunt was soon by her side； and folding her in
her arms； poured out her feelings in a torrent of
tears。 Charles would not； however； suffer any delay；
or expressions of gratitudebut； forcing both aunt
and niece into the carriage； bid Anthony drive
rapidly to a tavern known to be at no great
distance。
On their arrival； both Julia and Charles immediately
clad themselves in dry clotheswhen Miss
Emmerson commanded the presence of the young
man in her own room。 On entering； Charles found
Julia sitting by a fire； a thousand times handsomer；
if possible； than ever。 Her eyes were beaming with
gratitude； and her countenance was glowing with
the excitement produced by the danger that she
had encountered。
〃Ah！ Charles； my dear cousin；〃 cried Julia； rising and
meeting him with both hands extended； 〃I owe my
life to your bravery and presence of mind。〃
〃And mine too； Charles。〃 said Miss Emmerson； 〃but
for you； we should have all gone off the hill
together。〃
〃Yes； if Anthony had not managed the horses
admirably； you might have gone indeed；〃 said
Charles； with a modest wish to get rid of their
praise。 But this was an unlucky speech for Charles：
he had； unconsciously presented the image of a
rival； at the moment that he hoped he filled all the
thoughts of Julia。
〃Ah； Antonio！〃 she cried； 〃poor Antonio！and where
is he？Why do you not send for him； dear aunt？〃
〃What； my love； into my bed…chamber！〃 said Miss
Emmerson； in surprise； 〃fear has made the girl
crazy！But； Charles； where is Anthony？〃
〃In the stable； with the horses； I believe；〃 said the
youth〃no； here he is； under the window； leading
them to the pump。〃
〃Give him this money；〃 said Miss Emmerson； 〃and
tell him it is for his admirable skill in saving my
life。〃
Julia saw the danger of an exposure if she
interfered； yet she had the curiosity to go to the
window； and see how Antonio would conduct in the
mortifying dilemma。
〃Here； Anthony；〃 said Charles； 〃Miss Emmerson has
sent you ten dollars； for driving so well； and saving
the carriage。〃
〃Ah！ sir； it is no matterI can ask nothing for that；
I'm sure。〃
But Charles； accustomed to the backwardness of
the common Americans to receive more than the
price stipulated； still extended his hand towards
the man。 Julia saw his embarrassment； and
knowing of no other expedient by which to relieve
him； said； in a voice of persuasion
〃Take it for my sake； Antonioif it be unworthy of
you； still； take it； to oblige me。〃
The man no longer hesitated； but took the money；
and gave Julia a look and a bow that sunk deep
into the tablet of her memorywhile Charles
thought him extremely well paid for what he had
done； but made due allowances for the excited
state of his cousin's feelings。
〃You perceive；〃 said Miss Emmerson； with a smile；
as Julia withdrew from the window； 〃if Charles be a
little afraid of lightning； he has no dread of the
water。〃
〃Ah！ I retract my error；〃 cried Julia； 〃Charles must
be brave； or he never could have acted so coolly；
and so well。〃
〃Very true； my love；〃 said Miss Emmerson；
excessively gratified to hear her niece praise the
youth； 〃it is the surest test of courage when men
behave with presence of mind in novel situations。
Those accustomed to particular dangers easily
discharge their duties； because they know； as it
were instinctively； what is to be done。 Thus with
Tonyhe did well； but； I doubt not； he was horribly
frightenedand for the world he could not have
done what Charles did。〃
〃Not Antonio！〃 echoed Julia； thrown a little off her
guard〃I would pledge my life； aunt； that Antonio
would have done as much； if not more； than
Charles！〃
〃Why did he not； then？…It was his place to stop
the carriage…why did he not？〃
〃It was his place；〃 said Julia； 〃to manage the
horses； and you acknowledge that he did it well。
Duties incurred； no matter how unworthy of us；
must be discharged； and although we may be
conscious that our merit or our birth entitles us to a
different station from the one we fill； yet a noble
mind will not cease to perform its duty； even in
poverty and disgrace。〃
Miss Emmerson listened in surprise； but as her
niece often talked in a manner that she did not
comprehend； she attributed it to the improvements
in education； and was satisfied。 But Julia had
furnished herself with a clue to what had
occasioned her some uneasiness。 At one time she
thought Antonio ought to have left carriage； horses；
every thing； and flown to her rescue； as Charles had
done； but now she saw tha