The
blow was but a feint, for, suddenly turning the direction of the knife
when his enemy was out of its reach, he cut the bridle upon which the
latter hung, and the head of the horse, freed from the restraint, was as
at once elevated in air. The suddenness of his motion whirled the
ruffian to the ground; while the rider, wreathing his hands in the mane
of the noble animal, gave him a free spur, and plunged at once over the
struggling wretch, in whose cheek the glance of his hoof left a deep
gash.
The steed bounded forward; nor did the youth seek to restrain him,
though advancing full up the hill and in the teeth of his enemies.
Satisfied that he was approaching their station, the accomplices of the
foiled ruffian, who had seen the whole affray, sunk into the covert;
but, what was their mortification to perceive the traveller, though
without any true command over his steed, by an adroit use of the broker
bridle, so wheel him round as to bring him, in a few leaps, over the
very ground of the strife, and before the staggering robber had yet
fully arisen from the path.
Pages:
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53