Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/26

 upon his haunches, but the maddened brute reared and plunged wildly, and threatened to throw the preacher down and trample him under his hoofs. Junius dealt the animal a powerful blow with his clenched fist on its forehead. The brute recognized the hand of a master, and quivering in every limb he stood still.

The young rider slipped off the horse's back and stood before his rescuer.

“Seigneur,” he said in faltering tones, “how can I express my thanks to you? You have saved me from a terrible death.”

The lad who thus spoke was perhaps fifteen years of age, with a tall slight figure and a delicate feminine face. His features were perfect in outline. The rounded chin and curved lips were exquisitely formed. The broad white brow was shaded by rings of bronze-blue hair, and from under delicately pencilled eyebrows looked forth a pair of wonderful dark-blue eyes, clear yet fathomless, like a lake on which the sun is shining. That the lad belonged to a family of consequence was evidenced by his rich though disorderly dress.

Junius was attracted by the frank, ingenuous countenance of the youth, and he answered with a smile, “Yes, my young sir, you have had a narrow escape. My appearance at this time was truly providential. You are not strong enough to manage such a powerful animal.”