So Lef sputtered as he shook his hand in front of Frank’s face.
The stooping boy looked up. There was a smouldering fire in his own eyes, for he believed that only for the cowardly nature of Lef and his inability to manage the horse this thing need not have occurred.
“Look there, you!” he said, sternly, pointing down the road.
Lef, looking, saw a furniture van coming along. It took the entire width of the narrow river road, and was at a spot where cruel rocks abounded on either side.
“You must have met that thing. The horse would have dashed to one side, and the buggy been overturned among those rocks. And you can understand what must have followed. That’s why I made him shy! I knew it was ten times safer for you both to be dragged into the river than thrown out down the road!”
Lef was mute with horror. He realized that this quick-witted boy had sized up the situation in a second, and acted promptly.
After all, there was no damage done save to their ruffled feelings, and Minnie’s lovely red dress. But the girl would not speak to Lef, even when he asked her if she would get into the vehicle again.
“Frank, you’ll walk home with me, won’t you?” she said, turning to him, with the same old glow in her blue eyes.
“Only be too glad; and besides, I think the exercise would be the best thing for you after your ducking. Ta! ta! Lef. The next time you ask a girl to go out riding be sure you take a horse you can manage.”
Lef could not make any reply. He was too full of anger to speak, and turning away he went back to his horse. After the furniture van had passed he jumped in and sped the animal, now tractable enough, down the road. The three pedestrians stepped aside to let him pass; but not a word was said, although Ralph did wave a hand mockingly after him, as if speeding his homeward flight.