The cabman shouted and pulled at his horse's head.

But to the horrified onlookers it was only too clear that nothing could stop his career in time.

He was already within a yard or two of the luckless boy when Reginald made a sudden dash into the road, charging at him with a violence that sent him staggering forward two paces and then brought him to the earth.
Reginald fell too, on the top of him, and as the cab dashed past it just grazed the sole of his boot where he lay.
It was all the work of a moment--the shout, the vision of the boy, and the rescue--so sudden, indeed, that Mrs Cruden had barely time to clutch Horace by the arm before Reginald lay prone in the middle of the road.

In another moment Horace was beside his brother, helping him up out of the mud.
"Are you hurt, old man ?" "Not a bit," said Reginald, very pale and breathless, but rising to his feet without help.

"Look out--there's a crowd--take mother home, and I'll come on as soon as I've seen this fellow safe.