"What in the world is that boy doing?" said Mrs. Jo to herself, asshe watched Dan running round the half-mile triangle as if for awager. He was all alone, and seemed possessed by some strangedesire to run himself into a fever, or break his neck; for, afterseveral rounds, he tried leaping walls, and turning somersaults upthe avenue, and finally dropped down on the grass before the dooras if exhausted.

"Are you training for a race, Dan?" asked Mrs. Jo, from thewindow where she sat.

He looked up quickly, and stopped panting to answer, with alaugh,

"No; I'm only working off my steam."

"Can't you find a cooler way of doing it? You will be ill if you tearabout so in such warm weather," said Mrs. Jo, laughing also, as shethrew him out a great palm-leaf fan.

"Can't help it. I must run somewhere," answered Dan, with such anodd expression in his restless eyes, that Mrs. Jo was troubled, andasked, quickly,

"Is Plumfield getting too narrow for you?"

"I wouldn't mind if it was a little bigger. I like it though; only thefact is the devil gets into me sometimes, and then I do want tobolt."

The words seemed to come against his will, for he looked sorry theminute they were spoken, and seemed to think he deserved areproof for his ingratitude. But Mrs. Jo understood the feeling, andthough sorry to see it, she could not blame the boy for confessingit. She looked at him anxiously, seeing how tall and strong he hadgrown, how full of energy his face was, with its eager eyes andresolute mouth; and remembering the utter freedom he had knownfor years before, she felt how even the gentle restraint of this homewould weigh upon him at times when the old lawless spirit stirredin him. "Yes," she said to herself, "my wild hawk needs a largercage; and yet, if I let him go, I am afraid he will be lost. I must tryand find some lure strong enough to keep him safe."

"I know all about it," she added, aloud. "It is not 'the devil,' as youcall it, but the very natural desire of all young people for liberty. Iused to feel just so, and once, I really did think for a minute that Iwould bolt."

"Why didn't you?" said Dan, coming to lean on the lowwindow-ledge, with an evident desire to continue the subject.

"I knew it was foolish, and love for my mother kept me at home."

"I haven't got any mother," began Dan.

"I thought you had now," said Mrs. Jo, gently stroking the roughhair off his hot forehead.

"You are no end good to me, and I can't ever thank you enough,but it just isn't the same, is it?" and Dan looked up at her with awistful, hungry look that went to her heart.

"No, dear, it is not the same, and never can be. I think an ownmother would have been a great deal to you. But as that cannot be,you must try to let me fill her place. I fear I have not done all Iought, or you would not want to leave me," she added, sorrowfully.

"Yes, you have!" cried Dan, eagerly. "I don't want to go, and Iwon't go, if I can help it; but every now and then I feel as if I mustburst out somehow. I want to run straight ahead somewhere, tosmash something, or pitch into somebody. Don't know why, but Ido, and that's all about it."

Dan laughed as he spoke, but he meant what he said, for he knithis black brows, and brought down his fist on the ledge with suchforce, that Mrs. Jo's thimble flew off into the grass. He brought itback, and as she took it she held the big, brown hand a minute,saying, with a look that showed the words cost her something

"Well, Dan, run if you must, but don't run very far; and come backto me soon, for I want you very much."

He was rather taken aback by this unexpected permission to playtruant, and somehow it seemed to lessen his desire to go. He didnot understand why, but Mrs. Jo did, and, knowing the naturalperversity of the human mind, counted on it to help her now. Shefelt instinctively that the more the boy was restrained the more hewould fret against it; but leave him free, and the mere sense ofliberty would content him, joined to the knowledge that hispresence was dear to those whom he loved best. It was a littleexperiment, but it succeeded, for Dan stood silent a moment,unconsciously picking the fan to pieces and turning the matter overin his mind. He felt that she appealed to his heart and his honor,and owned that he understood it by saying presently, with amixture of regret and resolution in his face,

"I won't go yet awhile, and I'll give you fair warning before I bolt.That's fair, isn't it?"

"Yes, we will let it stand so. Now, I want to see if I can't find someway for you to work off your steam better than running about theplace like a mad dog, spoiling my fans, or fighting with the boys.What can we invent?" and while Dan tried to repair the mischiefhe had done, Mrs. Jo racked her brain for some new device to keepher truant safe until he had learned to love his lessons better.

"How would you like to be my express-man?" she said, as a suddenthought popped into her head.

"Go into town, and do the errands?" asked Dan, looking interestedat once.

"Yes; Franz is tired of it, Silas cannot be spared just now, and Mr.Bhaer has no time. Old Andy is a safe horse, you are a good driver,and know your way about the city as well as a postman. Supposeyou try it, and see if it won't do most as well to drive away two orthree times a week as to run away once a month."

"I'd like it ever so much, only I must go alone and do it all myself.I don't want any of the other fellows bothering round," said Dan,taking to the new idea so kindly that he began to put on businessairs already.

"If Mr. Bhaer does not object you shall have it all your own way. Isuppose Emil will growl, but he cannot be trusted with horses, andyou can. By the way, to-morrow is market-day, and I must makeout my list. You had better see that the wagon is in order, and tellSilas to have the fruit and vegetables ready for mother. You willhave to be up early and get back in time for school, can you dothat?"

"I'm always an early bird, so I don't mind," and Dan slung on hisjacket with despatch.

"The early bird got the worm this time, I'm sure," said Mrs. Jo,merrily.

"And a jolly good worm it is," answered Dan, as he went laughingaway to put a new lash to the whip, wash the wagon, and orderSilas about with all the importance of a young express-man.

"Before he is tired of this I will find something else and have itready when the next restless fit comes on," said Mrs. Jo to herself,as she wrote her list with a deep sense of gratitude that all her boyswere not Dans.

Mr. Bhaer did not entirely approve of the new plan, but agreed togive it a trial, which put Dan on his mettle, and caused him to giveup certain wild plans of his own, in which the new lash and thelong hill were to have borne a part. He was up and away very earlythe next morning, heroically resisting the temptation to race withthe milkmen going into town. Once there, he did his errandscarefully, to Mr. Bhaer's surprise and Mrs. Jo's great satisfaction.The Commodore did growl at Dan's promotion, but was pacifiedby a superior padlock to his new boat-house, and the thought thatseamen were meant for higher honors than driving market-wagonsand doing family errands. So Dan filled his new office well andcontentedly for weeks, and said no more about bolting. But oneday Mr. Bhaer found him pummelling Jack, who was roaring formercy under his knee.

"Why, Dan, I thought you had given up fighting," he said, as hewent to the rescue.

"We ain't fighting, we are only wrestling," answered Dan, leavingoff reluctantly.

"It looks very much like it, and feels like it, hey, Jack?" said Mr.Bhaer, as the defeated gentleman got upon his legs with difficulty.

"Catch me wrestling with him again. He's most knocked my headoff," snarled Jack, holding on to that portion of his frame as if itreally was loose upon his shoulders.

"The fact is, we began in fun, but when I got him down I couldn'thelp pounding him. Sorry I hurt you, old fellow," explained Dan,looking rather ashamed of himself.

"I understand. The longing to pitch into somebody was so strongyou couldn't resist. You are a sort of Berserker, Dan, andsomething to tussle with is as necessary to you as music is to Nat,"said Mr. Bhaer, who knew all about the conversation between theboy and Mrs. Jo.

"Can't help it. So if you don't want to be pounded you'd better keepout of the way," answered Dan, with a warning look in his blackeyes that made Jack sheer off in haste.

"If you want something to wrestle with, I will give you a tougherspecimen than Jack," said Mr. Bhaer; and, leading the way to thewood-yard, he pointed out certain roots of trees that had beengrubbed up in the spring, and had been lying there waiting to besplit.

"There, when you feel inclined to maltreat the boys, just come andwork off your energies here, and I'll thank you for it."

"So I will;" and, seizing the axe that lay near Dan hauled out atough root, and went at it so vigorously, that the chips flew far andwide, and Mr. Bhaer fled for his life.

To his great amusement, Dan took him at his word, and was oftenseen wrestling with the ungainly knots, hat and jacket off, red face,and wrathful eyes; for he got into royal rages over some of hisadversaries, and swore at them under his breath till he hadconquered them, when he exulted, and marched off to the shedwith an armful of gnarled oak-wood in triumph. He blistered hishands, tired his back, and dulled the axe, but it did him good, andhe got more comfort out of the ugly roots than any one dreamed,for with each blow he worked off some of the pent-up power thatwould otherwise have been expended in some less harmless way.

"When this is gone I really don't know what I shall do," said Mrs.Jo to herself, for no inspiration came, and she was at the end of herresources.

But Dan found a new occupation for himself, and enjoyed it sometime before any one discovered the cause of his contentment. Afine young horse of Mr. Laurie's was kept at Plumfield thatsummer, running loose in a large pasture across the brook. Theboys were all interested in the handsome, spirited creature, and fora time were fond of watching him gallop and frisk with his plumeytail flying, and his handsome head in the air. But they soon gottired of it, and left Prince Charlie to himself. All but Dan, he nevertired of looking at the horse, and seldom failed to visit him eachday with a lump of sugar, a bit of bread, or an apple to make himwelcome. Charlie was grateful, accepted his friendship, and thetwo loved one another as if they felt some tie between them,inexplicable but strong. In whatever part of the wide field he mightbe, Charlie always came at full speed when Dan whistled at thebars, and the boy was never happier than when the beautiful, fleetcreature put its head on his shoulder, looking up at him with fineeyes full of intelligent affection.

"We understand one another without any palaver, don't we, oldfellow?" Dan would say, proud of the horse's confidence, and, sojealous of his regard, that he told no one how well the friendshipprospered, and never asked anybody but Teddy to accompany himon these daily visits.

Mr. Laurie came now and then to see how Charlie got on, andspoke of having him broken to harness in the autumn.

"He won't need much taming, he is such a gentle, fine-temperedbrute. I shall come out and try him with a saddle myself someday," he said, on one of these visits.

"He lets me put a halter on him, but I don't believe he will bear asaddle even if you put it on," answered Dan, who never failed to bepresent when Charlie and his master met.

"I shall coax him to bear it, and not mind a few tumbles at first. Hehas never been harshly treated, so, though he will be surprised atthe new performance, I think he won't be frightened, and his anticswill do no harm."

"I wonder what he would do," said Dan to himself, as Mr. Lauriewent away with the Professor, and Charlie returned to the bars,from which he had retired when the gentlemen came up.

A daring fancy to try the experiment took possession of the boy ashe sat on the topmost rail with the glossy back temptingly nearhim. Never thinking of danger, he obeyed the impulse, and whileCharlie unsuspectingly nibbled at the apple he held, Dan quicklyand quietly took his seat. He did not keep it long, however, forwith an astonished snort, Charlie reared straight up, and depositedDan on the ground. The fall did not hurt him, for the turf was soft,and he jumped up, saying, with a laugh,

"I did it anyway! Come here, you rascal, and I'll try it again."

But Charlie declined to approach, and Dan left him resolving tosucceed in the end; for a struggle like this suited him exactly. Nexttime he took a halter, and having got it on, he played with thehorse for a while, leading him to and fro, and putting him throughvarious antics till he was a little tired; then Dan sat on the wall andgave him bread, but watched his chance, and getting a good grip ofthe halter, slipped on to his back. Charlie tried the old trick, butDan held on, having had practice with Toby, who occasionally hadan obstinate fit, and tried to shake off his rider. Charlie was bothamazed and indignant; and after prancing for a minute, set off at agallop, and away went Dan heels over head. If he had not belongedto the class of boys who go through all sorts of dangers unscathed,he would have broken his neck; as it was, he got a heavy fall, andlay still collecting his wits, while Charlie tore round the fieldtossing his head with every sign of satisfaction at the discomfitureof his rider. Presently it seemed to occur to him that somethingwas wrong with Dan, and, being of a magnanimous nature, hewent to see what the matter was. Dan let him sniff about andperplex himself for a few minutes; then he looked up at him,saying, as decidedly as if the horse could understand,

"You think you have beaten, but you are mistaken, old boy; and I'llride you yet see if I don't."

He tried no more that day, but soon after attempted a new methodof introducing Charlie to a burden. He strapped a folded blanket onhis back, and then let him race, and rear, and roll, and fume asmuch as he liked. After a few fits of rebellion Charlie submitted,and in a few days permitted Dan to mount him, often stopped shortto look round, as if he said, half patiently, half reproachfully, "Idon't understand it, but I suppose you mean no harm, so I permitthe liberty."

Dan patted and praised him, and took a short turn every day,getting frequent falls, but persisting in spite of them, and longingto try a saddle and bridle, but not daring to confess what he haddone. He had his wish, however, for there had been a witness ofhis pranks who said a good word for him.

"Do you know what that chap has ben doin' lately?" asked Silas ofhis master, one evening, as he received his orders for the next day.

"Which boy?" said Mr. Bhaer, with an air of resignation, expectingsome sad revelation.

"Dan, he's ben a breaking the colt, sir, and I wish I may die if heain't done it," answered Silas, chuckling.

"How do you know?"

"Wal, I kinder keep an eye on the little fellers, and most gen'llyknow what they're up to; so when Dan kep going off to the paster,and coming home black and blue, I mistrusted that suthing wasgoin' on. I didn't say nothin', but I crep up into the barn chamber,and from there I see him goin' through all manner of games withCharlie. Blest if he warn't throwed time and agin, and knockedround like a bag o' meal. But the pluck of that boy did beat all, andhe 'peared to like it, and kep on as ef bound to beat."

"But, Silas, you should have stopped it the boy might have beenkilled," said Mr. Bhaer, wondering what freak his irrepressibleswould take into their heads next.

"S'pose I oughter; but there warn't no real danger, for Charlie ain'tno tricks, and is as pretty a tempered horse as ever I see. Fact was,I couldn't bear to spile sport, for ef there's any thing I do admire it'sgrit, and Dan is chock full on 't. But now I know he's hankerin'after a saddle, and yet won't take even the old one on the sly; so Ijust thought I'd up and tell, and may be you'd let him try what hecan do. Mr. Laurie won't mind, and Charlie's all the better for 't."

"We shall see;" and off went Mr. Bhaer to inquire into the matter.

Dan owned up at once, and proudly proved that Silas was right byshowing off his power over Charlie; for by dint of much coaxing,many carrots, and infinite perseverance, he really had succeeded inriding the colt with a halter and blanket. Mr. Laurie was muchamused, and well pleased with Dan's courage and skill, and let himhave a hand in all future performances; for he set about Charlie'seducation at once, saying that he was not going to be outdone by aslip of a boy. Thanks to Dan, Charlie took kindly to the saddle andbridle when he had once reconciled himself to the indignity of thebit; and after Mr. Laurie had trained him a little, Dan waspermitted to ride him, to the great envy and admiration of the otherboys.

"Isn't he handsome? and don't he mind me like a lamb?" said Danone day as he dismounted and stood with his arm round Charlie'sneck.

"Yes, and isn't he a much more useful and agreeable animal thanthe wild colt who spent his days racing about the field, jumpingfences, and running away now and then?" asked Mrs. Bhaer fromthe steps where she always appeared when Dan performed withCharlie.

"Of course he is. See he won't run away now, even if I don't holdhim, and he comes to me the minute I whistle; I have tamed himwell, haven't I?" and Dan looked both proud and pleased, as wellhe might, for, in spite of their struggles together, Charlie loved himbetter than his master.

"I am taming a colt too, and I think I shall succeed as well as you ifI am as patient and persevering," said Mrs. Jo, smiling sosignificantly at him, that Dan understood and answered, laughing,yet in earnest,

"We won't jump over the fence and run away, but stay and let themmake a handsome, useful span of us, hey, Charlie?"