Luck and Pluck; or, John Oakley's Inheritance

by Jr. Horatio Alger

"Yes."

"Then I'll give it. Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, stick to that horse, and defy Ben Brayton to do his worst."

"It seems to me I've heard part of that speech before," said John, smiling. "As to the advice, I'll follow it if I can. I'm not afraid of anything Ben Brayton can do; but suppose his mother takes his part?"

"Do you think she will?"

"I am afraid she will."

"Then defy her too," said Sam, hastily.

"I don't know about that," said John. "I am only a boy of fifteen, and she is my father's widow. If she chooses to take the horse away, I don't know that I can do anything."

"Ben Brayton is a mean rascal. Didn't he get a gold watch at the same time that you got the horse?"

"Yes; he might have had a horse too, but he preferred the watch and chain. They cost as much as Prince."

"And now he wants the horse too?"