`` Now then , boy , you go for the doctor . My own folks will see to the lady , and she 'd better keep quiet up yender till we see what the matter is , '' said the farmer , when the pale girl was lifted in as carefully as four strong arms could do it . `` Hold on , '' he added , as Ben made one leap to Lita 's back . `` You 'll have to go to Berryville . Dr. Mills is a master hand for broken bones and old Dr. Babcock ai n't . 'T is n't but about three miles from here to his house , and you 'll fetch him ` fore there 's any harm done waitin ' . '' `` Do n't kill Lita , '' called Miss Celia from the cart , as it began to move . But Ben did not hear her , for he was off across the fields , riding as if life and death depended upon his speed . `` That boy will break his neck , '' said Mr. Paine , standing still to watch horse and rider go over the wall as if bent on instant destruction . `` No fear for Ben , he can ride any thing , and Lita was trained to leap , '' answered Miss Celia , falling back on the hay with a groan , for she had involuntarily raised her head to see her little squire dash away in gallant style . `` I should hope so ; regular jockey , that boy . Never see any thing like it out of a race-ground , '' and Farmer Paine strode on , still following with his eye the figures that went thundering over the bridge , up the hill , out of sight , leaving a cloud of cloud of dust behind . Now that his mistress was safe , Ben enjoyed that wild ride mightily , and so did the bay mare ; for Lita had good blood in her , and proved it that day by doing her three miles in a wonderfully short time . People jogging along in wagons and country carry-alls stared amazed as the reckless pair went by . Women , placidly doing their afternoon sewing at the front windows , dropped their needles to run out with exclamations of alarm , sure some one was being run away with ; children playing by the roadside scattered like chickens before a hawk , as Ben passed with a warning whoop , and baby-carriages were scrambled into door-yards with perilous rapidity at his approach . But when he clattered into town , intense interest was felt in this barefooted boy on the foaming steed , and a dozen voices asked , `` Who 's killed ? '' as he pulled up at the doctor 's gate . `` Jest drove off that way ; Mrs. Flynn 's baby 's in a fit , '' cried a stout lady from the piazza , never ceasing to rock , though several passers-by paused to hear the news , for she was a doctor 's wife , and used to the arrival of excited messengers from all quarters at all hours of the day and night . Deigning no reply to any one , Ben rode away , wishing he could leap a yawning gulf , scale a precipice , or ford a raging torrent , to prove his devotion to Miss Celia , and his skill in horsemanship . But no dangers beset his path , and he found the doctor pausing to water his tired horse at the very trough where Bab and Sancho had been discovered on that ever-memorable day .
The story was quickly told , and , promising to be there as soon as possible , Dr. Mills drove on to relieve baby XXXXX 's inner man , a little disturbed by a bit of soap and several buttons , upon which he had privately lunched while his mamma was busy at the wash-tub .
Bab Babcock Ben Berryville Celia Flynn Lita Sancho carry-alls night