The poor old horse slipped at every step, though Scapin was carefully leading him, and staggered along like a drunken man, striking first against one shaft and then against the other, growing perceptibly weaker at every turn of the wheels behind him.
Now and again he shook his head slowly up and down, and cast appealing glances at those around him, as his trembling legs seemed about to give way under him.

His hour had come--the poor, old horse! and he was dying in harness like a brave beast, as he was.

At last he could no more, and falling heavily to the ground gave one feeble kick as he stretched himself out on his side, and yielded up the ghost.

Frightened by the sudden shock, the women shrieked loudly, and the men, running to their assistance, helped them to clamber out of the chariot.Mme.Leonarde and Serafina were none the worse for the fright, but Isabelle had fainted quite away, and de Sigognac, lifting her light weight easily, carried her in his arms to the bank at the side of the road, followed by the duenna, while Scapin bent down over the prostrate horse and carefully examined his ears.
"He is stone dead," said he in despairing tones; "his ears are cold, and there is no pulsation in the auricular artery." "Then I suppose we shall have to harness ourselves to the chariot in his place," broke in Leander dolefully, almost weeping.

"Oh! cursed be the mad folly that led me to choose an actor's career." "Is this a time to groan and bewail yourself ?" roared the tyrant savagely, entirely out of patience with Leander's everlasting jeremiads; "for heaven's sake pluck up a little courage, and be a man! And now to consider what is to be done; but first let us see how our good little Isabelle is getting on; is she still unconscious?
No; she opens her eyes, and there is the colour coming back to her lips; she will do now, thanks to the baron and Mme.Leonarde.We must divide ourselves into two bands; one will stay with the women and the chariot, the other will scour the country in search of aid.