Belle, in the meantime, had raised up the man, who was much stunned by his fall; but presently recovering his recollection to a certain degree, he came limping to me holding his hand to his right thigh.

"The first thing that must now be done," said I, "is to free these horses from the traces; can you undertake to do so ?" "I think I can," said the man, looking at me somewhat stupidly.

"I will help," said Belle, and without loss of time laid hold of one of the traces.

The man, after a short pause, also set to work, and in a few minutes the horses were extricated.

"Now," said I to the man, "what is next to be done ?" "I don't know," said he; "indeed, I scarcely know anything; I have been so frightened by this horrible storm, and so shaken by my fall." "I think," said I, "that the storm is passing away, so cast your fears away too; and as for your fall, you must bear it as lightly as you can.