Follow My Leader | Page 5

him in
for us."
The "fellow" was quite amenable to this sort of persuasion, and
grinningly complied with the whim of the young gentlemen; secretly
enjoying the prospect of Tom's dismay.
"'Taint no concern of mine," said he, philosophically. "If you tells me
to do it, I does it."
"And if we tells you to open your mouth and shut your eyes, and you'll
find sixpence in your hand,--you'll find it there," said Dick.

"Of course you knows how to drive," said the stableman.
"Rather! Do you think we're babies? Here, shy us the reins. Come
along, you fellows, there's room for all three on the box. Now then, Joe,
give her her head. Come up, you beast! Swish! See if we don't make
her step out. Let her go!"
With some misgivings, Joe obeyed, and next moment the waggonette
swayed majestically out of the yard very much like a small steam-tug
going out of harbour in half a cap of wind.
"Rum, the way she pitches," said Dick presently; "she didn't do it when
we came."
"Looks to me as if the horse wasn't quite sober," suggested Coote.
"Perhaps, if you pulled both reins at the same time, instead of one at a
time," put in Heathcote, "she wouldn't wobble so much."
"You duffer; she'd stop dead, if I did that."
"Suppose you don't pull either," said Heathcote.
Richardson pooh-poohed the notion, but acted on it all the same, with
highly satisfactorily results. The trap glided along smoothly, and all
anxiety as to the management of the mare appeared to be at an end.
"I left word for Tom," said Richardson, "if he stepped out, he'd catch us
up. Ha, ha! Won't he be wild?"
"Wonder if he'll get us in a row with Ashford?" said Heathcote.
"Not he. What's the harm? Just a little horse-play, that's all."
Heathcote and Coote became grave.
"Look here," said the former, "we let you off last time, but you'll catch
it now. Collar him that side, Coote, and have him over."

"Don't be an idiot, Heathcote," cried the Jehu, as he found himself
suddenly seized on either hand. "Let go, while I'm driving. Do you hear,
Coote; let go, or there'll be a smash!"
But as "letting go" was an accomplishment not taught at Mountjoy
House, Richardson had to adopt stronger measures than mere
persuasion in order to clear himself of his embarrassments.
Dropping the reins and flinging his arms vehemently back, he managed
to dislodge his assailants, though not without dislodging himself at the
same time, and a long and somewhat painful creditors' meeting down in
the waggonette was the consequence.
The mare, whose patience had been gradually evaporating during this
strange journey, conscious of the riot behind her, and feeling the reins
dropping loosely over her tail, took the whole matter very much to
heart, and showed her disapproval of the whole proceedings by taking
to her heels and bolting straight away.
The business meeting inside stood forthwith adjourned. With scared
faces, the boys struggled to their feet, and, holding on to the rail of the
box-seat, peered over to ascertain the cause of this alarming diversion.
"It's a bolt!" said Richardson, the only one of the three who retained
wits enough to think or speak. "Hang on, you fellows; I'll try and get
the reins. Help me up!"
As well as the swaying of the vehicle would allow it, they helped him
hoist himself up on to the box. But for a long time all his efforts to
catch the reins were in vain, and once or twice it seemed as if nothing
could save him from being pitched off his perch on to the road. Luckily
the mare kept a straight course, and at length, by a tremendous stretch,
well supported from the rear by his faithful comrades, the boy
succeeded in reaching the reins and pulling them up over the mare's
tail.
"Hang on now!" said he; "we're all right if I can only guide her."

CHAPTER TWO.
HOW OUR HEROES FALL OUT AND YET REMAIN FRIENDS.
Mountjoy House had a narrow escape that afternoon of losing three of
its most promising pupils.
The boys themselves by no means realised the peril of their situation.
Indeed, after the first alarm, and finding that, by clinging tightly to the
rail of the box-seat, they could support themselves on their feet on the
floor of the swinging vehicle, Heathcote and Coote began almost to
enjoy it, and were rather sorry one or two of the Templeton boys were
not at hand to see how Mountjoy did things.
Richardson, however, with the reins in his hands, but utterly powerless
to check the headlong career of the mare, or to do anything but guide
her, took a more serious view of the situation, and