It was all over in a moment. Hotspur dashed into the woods, banged in his blindness against a pine-tree, and on the instant his rider, seeing a chance to dismount, leaped from his back. But before he could reach the ground, being so near the tree, up bounded the horse just in time to hurl his young master back to the edge of the saddle, from which he fell with such force that he lay on the ground senseless, his fair hair streaming back, his blue eyes closed, while the great hunter went thundering on his way.
Sally did not cry out nor lack for nerve. The finer part of her nature came to her help, as it always will where it but exists, and she felt the thrill of courage that is worth very much when prompt action is needed.
As she slipped from the tree the thought went through her mind:
"If he is killed, straight I must go to the great house and tell what I have seen. If he is but stunned, then must I do what I can to help him."
She bent over and could see that he was breathing. Like a flash she darted across to the house, caught up a dipper and filled it from the water-pail. Then back she sped and with hands that trembled bathed forehead and face, and dropped sprays of water into the parted lips. Then she rubbed his hands and again sprinkled his brow.
Before long the eyes unclosed and fastened dreamily on the ministering maiden. But neither spoke. The eyes remained open, and began to rove a little. Sally saw that speech would come in a moment more.
But at that instant the sound of hurrying hoofs echoed in the distance, several of them, it seemed, and like a startled deer Sally turned, and before Bill, the groom, Corniel, and Sam Spruce rushed up to the spot where lay their young master, she was panting on her seat in the oak-tree.
CHAPTER XII.
WHO WAS SHE?
The colored servants had with them strong cordials that soon brought Lionel to himself.