said Ben , who talked to animals as if they were people , and was understood much better than any one not used to their companionship would imagine . Now Lita seemed at a loss , and put her head down , as if she expected to find her mistress where she had left her , somewhere on the ground . Ben called , but there was no answer ; and he rode slowly along the brook-side , looking far and wide with anxious eyes . `` May be she was n't hurt , and has gone to that house to wait , '' thought the boy , pausing for a last survey of the great , sunny field , which had no place of shelter in it but one rock on the other side of the little stream . As his eye wandered over it , something dark seemed to blow out from behind it , as if the wind played in the folds of a shirt , or a human limb moved . Away went Lita , and in a moment Ben had found Miss Celia , lying in the shadow of the rock , so white and motionless , he feared that she was dead . He leaped down , touched her , spoke to her ; and , receiving no answer , rushed away to bring a little water in his leaky hat to sprinkle in her face , as he had seen them do when any of the riders got a fall in the circus , or fainted from exhaustion after they left the ring , where `` do or die '' was the motto all adopted . In a minute , the blue eyes opened , and she recognized the anxious face bending over her , saying faintly , as she touched it , -- `` My good little Ben , I knew you 'd find me , -- I sent Lita for you , -- I 'm so hurt , I could n't come . '' `` Oh , where ? What shall I do ? Had I better run up to the house ? '' asked Ben , overjoyed to hear her speak , but much dismayed by her seeming helplessness , for he had seen bad falls , and had them , too . `` I feel bruised all over , and my arm is broken , I 'm afraid . Lita tried not to hurt me . She slipped , and we went down . I came here into the shade , and the pain made me faint , I suppose . Call somebody , and get me home . '' Then she shut her eyes , and looked so white that Ben hurried away , and burst upon old Mrs. Paine , placidly knitting at the end door , so suddenly that , as she afterward said , `` It sca ' t her like a clap o ' thunder . '' `` Ai n't a man nowheres around . All down in the big medder gettin ' in hay , '' was her reply to Ben 's breathless demand for `` everybody to come and see to Miss Celia . ''
He turned to mount , for he had flung himself off before XXXXX stopped , but the old lady caught his jacket , and asked half a dozen questions in a breath .
Ben Celia Lita Paine brook-side gettin left minute nowheres sca