Here she vigorously endeavored to make a stand, for if she went another step forward her dainty boots would sink into mud and dirt.
"Whoa!" she called out to the mare; "whoa, now!" At the sound of these words, plainly uttered in trouble, Ralph, who happened to be in a stall next to the barn wall looking over some ropes, glanced through a little window about four feet from the ground, and saw Miss Bannister very close to him, tottering on the edge of the straw, and just about to let go of the mare, or step into the mire.

Before he could shape words to tell her to release her dangerous hold, or make up his mind to rush around to the door to go to her assistance, she saw him, and throwing out her left hand in his direction, she exclaimed:-- "Oh, hold me, please." Instantly Ralph put out his long arm, and caught her by the hand.
"Thank you," said Miss Dora.

"In another moment she would have pulled me into the dirt.

Perhaps now I can make her walk up on the clean straw.
Come, come," she continued persuasively to the mare, which, however, obstinately declined to advance.
"Let go of her, I beg of you, Miss Bannister," cried Ralph.

"It will hurt you to be pulled on two sides in this way." Dora was a strong young girl, and so far the pulling had not hurt her at all.