The trooper wrested the horse's head from the spot where they stood; with a snort, as it felt the spur, the enraged animal lashed out with its hind-legs; and Lucille, unable to save _both_, threw herself before the blind man, and received the shock directed against him; her slight and delicate arm fell broken by her side, the horseman was borne onward.

"Thank God, _you_ are saved!" was poor Lucille's exclamation; and she fell, overcome with pain and terror, into the arms which the stranger mechanically opened to receive her.
"My guide! my friend!" cried he, "you are hurt, you--" "No, sir," interrupted Lucille, faintly, "I am better, I am well.

_This_ arm, if you please,--we are not far from your hotel now." But the stranger's ear, tutored to every inflection of voice, told him at once of the pain she suffered.

He drew from her by degrees the confession of the injury she had sustained; but the generous girl did not tell him it had been incurred solely in his protection.

He now insisted on reversing their duties, and accompanying _her_ to her home; and Lucille, almost fainting with pain, and hardly able to move, was forced to consent.