68 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

“T will, my hittle girl,” he replied. “I will be close to you all
the time, but the bridge is so narrow that we cannot possibly go side
by side, and it will be better for you to go on in front, and let me
follow you.”

“No, no, let me follow you,” gasped poor Cowslip. “I shall feel
much less frightened if I see you just in front of me.”

“ Very well, I will do so if you wish it,” answered the Guide.

He flung himself on his splendid black horse as he spoke, and the
next moment had begun to cross the bridge, looking back over his
shoulder to encourage Cowslip as he did so.

Notwithstanding all her efforts to the contrary, the poor little girl
could not help shuddering as she felt Trust place first one foot and
then the other on the slender bridge.

At last she found there was nothing whatever to do but to shut
her eyes. She knew that if by any chance she glanced down even
once, she would become so giddy that she would fall off the pony’s
back and be lost for ever.

‘But even with her eyes shut, her terrors were so great that she
could scarcely keep from screaming aloud.

“Open your eyes, Cowslip,” said the Guide. ‘‘Open your eyes
and look up. You won't be frightened then.”

“ But I am afraid,” she gasped.

“Trust, trust, and look up,” said the Guide again.

With a great effort Cowslip did open her eyes, and looking up
saw something which filled her with such wonder and courage that
her head ceased to feel giddy and her limbs ceased to tremble.

In the air above, looking down at her from the edges of the clouds,
looking down at her from the peaks of the mountains, were thousands
and thousands, and many, many thousands of happy, lovely children’s
faces—they smiled to her—they beckoned to her—their soft
laughter reached her.

“Oh, how wonderful!” gasped the little girl,

“All those children have already crossed the bridge,” said the
Guide. “Keep looking at them, Cowslip, and your fears will pass
away. See, we are half across now.”