Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/297

280 "You could not do it!"

"See!" Dolf's eyes shone. He tossed the curls out of them, and pressed his feet against Emperor's sides. Away went the bonny black steed, twice and thrice around, and Dolf laughed, and all the grooms ran to the castle-yard at the noise of galloping hoofs. The dogs barked, the women-servants who peeped out at windows screamed—there was a mighty hubbub.

Then the ragged rider checked his steed, whispering into its ear as before, rode it back to its stall, and tethered it fast.

And after that every one began to talk and wonder and scold, and the head groom came up to Dolf with an angry look.

But Conrad stood his friend.

"Be quiet, all of you!" he cried imperiously. "Dolf Schmidt can ride Emperor if he choose, for he is a better horseman than any man here." And, throwing one arm about his companion's