Brave and True | Page 4

fluttering and its tail invisible all but the round knob at the end, sailing
about in the air.
But alas! how short-lived are some of our pleasures! That fine twine
was badly made, or one part was damaged, for, just when poor Tizzy's
little arm was being jerked by the kite in its efforts to escape and fly
higher, the string parted about half-way, and the kite learned that, like
many animated creatures, it could not fly alone, for it went off before
the wind, falling and falling most pitifully, with Ned going at full speed
after the flying string which trailed over the grass. He caught up to it at
last, but too late, for it was just as the kite plunged into the top of one
of the highest trees by the river, and there it stuck.
Tizzy came crying up, while Ned jerked and tugged at the string till he
knew that if he pulled harder the kite would be torn; but there it stuck,
and Tizzy wept.
"Oh," she cried, "and such a beautiful kite as it was!"
"Don't you cry," said Ned, caressing her. "I'll soon get it again."
"Oh, but you can't, Teddy!"
"Can't I?" he cried, setting his teeth. "I'll soon show you. Hold this
string."
As his sister caught the string the boy dashed to the tree.
"Oh, Teddy, don't; you'll fall--you'll fall!" cried Tizzy.
"That I won't," he said stoutly. "I've climbed larger trees than this at
school."

And, taking advantage of the rough places of the bark, the boy
swarmed up to where the branches made the climbing less laborious,
and then he went on up and up, higher and higher, till the tree began to
quiver and bend, and he shouted to his sister, breathlessly watching him,
her little heart beating fast the while.
She was not the only watcher, for another barge was coming along the
river, and, as it drew nearer, the boy on the horse stopped his steed and
the man steering lay back to look up. And higher and higher went Ned,
till the tree began to bend with his weight, and he laughingly gave it an
impetus to make it swing him when he was about six feet from where
the kite hung upside down by its tangled tail, but happily untorn. "Look
out, Tiz!" shouted Ned.
"Yes, yes, dear; but do take care."
"All right," he cried. "I'm going to cut off his tail, and I shall say when.
Then you pull the string and it will come down. Wo-ho!" he cried, as he
tugged out his knife, for the tree bent and bent like a fishing-rod, the
spiny centre on which he was being now very thin. Then, steadying
himself, he climbed the last six feet and hung over backwards, holding
up his legs and one hand, as he used his knife and divided the string tail.
"Pull, Tiz, pull!" he shouted, "Run!"
Tizzy obeyed and the kite followed her.
"Hoo-ray," shouted Ned, taking off his cap to give it a wave, when,
crick! crack! the tree snapped twenty feet below him, and the next
moment poor Ned was describing a curve in the air, for the wood and
bark held the lower part like a huge hinge, while Ned clung tightly for
some moments before he was flung outwards, to fall with a tremendous
splash.
Poor Tizzy heard the sharp snap of the tree and turned, to gaze in horror
at her brother's fall, uttering a wild shriek as she saw him disappear in
the sparkling water; and then in her childlike dread she closed her eyes
tightly, stopped her ears, and ran blindly across the meadow, shrieking
with all her little might and keeping her eyes fast closed, till she found

herself caught up and a shower of questions were put.
They were in vain at first, for the poor child was utterly dazed, hardly
recognising the friendly arms which had caught her up, till those arms
gave her a good shake.
"Master Ned!--why don't you speak, child?--where's your brother?"
"Oh," shrieked Tizzy, "the water--the water! Tumbled in."
"Oh, my poor darling bairn!" cried Cook, hugging Tizzy to her, as she
ran towards, the river. "I knew it--I knew it! I was always sure my own
dear boy would be drowned."
There was no ill-temper now, for Cook was sobbing hysterically as she
ran, with the tears streaming down her cheeks, till she saw something
taking place on the river which seemed to take all the strength out of
her legs, for she dropped upon her knees now with her lips moving fast,
but not a sound was heard.
The next minute she was hurrying again to the river-bank, towards
which a man was thrusting the stern of the long narrow barge