124 CAROLINE.
Caroline goes to find Beechnut in the woods.

like to have him go very much, to look after Phonny
and Malleville; only I suppose that as Livingston and
Wallace are going, it is not really necessary.”

“ No,” said Caroline, “but at any rate I will go and
see him.”

So Caroline went out into the yard again, and taking
her horse by the bridle, she led him through various
gates and yards; until at length she came to the pasture
bars. She took these bars down, led the horse through,
and then mounting the horse, she went on up the road.
The road was very wild and romantic, affording splendid
prospects of the surrounding country all the way. At
length, after ascending for some time, Caroline began to
descend. The road soon entered a wood, and after wind-
ing about among thickets for some time, it led Caroline
at last to a brook. Here Caroline found two men and
Beechnut, at work with a yoke of oxen, hauling logs and
building a bridge. Beechnut was driving the oxen.

As soon as Caroline came near, Beechnut, who was
then on the other side of the brook, called upon her to
remain where she was a moment, and said that he would
come over to her. So Caroline stopped her horse. The
pony began immediately eating the grass by the road-
side, while Caroline watched the proceedings of Beechnut
and the men.

Presently Beechnut left his team, and crossing the
brook on stepping stones, advanced to where Caroline’s
horse was standing, and then patting the horse upon his
shoulder with one hand, while he held his goadstick in
the other, he said,

“ Good morning, Caroline. How did you find out that
I was here?”