“Wild?” gasped the dude. “I—I don't want to drive a wild horse.”

“Oh, he'll be all right if you keep an eye on him,” went on the stable boy.

“Young and a little bit wild!” thought Felix to himself. “Oh, dear, what in the world shall I do? I never drove a horse before. If I get back with less than a broken neck I'll be lucky! I'd give a thousand to be out of this pickle.”

“Hadn't we better start, Mr. Gussing?” asked one of the young ladies, after a pause.

“Oh, yes—certainly!” he stammered. “But—er—you can drive if you wish.”

“Thank you, but I would prefer that you drive.”

“Won't you drive?” he asked of the other young lady.

“Oh, no, not to-day. But I'll use the whip if you say so,” she answered.

“Not for the world!” cried the unhappy Felix. “He is a bit wild already and there is no telling what he'd do if he felt the whip.”

At last the carriage drove off. Joe gazed after it thoughtfully.