Instantly , as though it had divined the neighbourhood of help , the poor beast began to neigh most piercingly . It rolled , meanwhile , a blood-shot eye , insane with terror ; and as it sprawled wallowing in the quag , clouds of stinging insects rose and buzzed about it in the air . `` Alack ! '' thought Dick , `` can the poor lad have perished ? There is his horse , for certain -- a brave grey ! Nay , comrade , if thou criest to me so piteously , I will do all man can to help thee . Shalt not lie there to drown by inches ! '' And he made ready his crossbow , and put a quarrel through the creature 's head . Dick rode on after this act of rugged mercy , somewhat sobered in spirit , and looking closely about him for any sign of his less happy predecessor in the way . `` I would I had dared to tell him further , '' he thought ; `` for I fear he has miscarried in the slough . '' And just as he was so thinking , a voice cried upon his name from the causeway side , and , looking over his shoulder , he saw the lad 's face peering from a clump of reeds . `` Are ye there ? '' he said , reining in . `` Ye lay so close among the reeds that I had passed you by . I saw your horse bemired , and put him from his agony ; which , by my sooth ! an ye had been a more merciful rider , ye had done yourself . But come forth out of your hiding . Here be none to trouble you . '' `` Nay , good boy , I have no arms , nor skill to use them if I had , '' replied the other , stepping forth upon the pathway . `` Why call me ` boy ' ? ''
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Dick Shalt causeway crossbow pathway quag reeds sign slough sooth