Follow My Leader | Page 7

remark were anything but unflattering to
Richardson.
"It was a close squeak through the gate," said the latter, "not six inches
either side; and if it hadn't been for the ruts we should have kept up all
right till now. I say, do you think the trap's damaged, or the mare?"
The mare was lying very comfortably on her side taking a good breath
after her race, and not offering to resume her feet. As for the
waggonette it was lying equally comfortably on its side, with one wheel
up in the air.
"Shaft broken," said the driver, "that's all."

"That's all!" said Dick, dolefully, "we shall catch it, and no mistake."
The man grinned.
"You can't expect to play games of that sort without scratching the
varnish off," said he. "No fault of yours you haven't got your necks
broke."
"Suppose we try to get her up?" said Richardson, looking as if this last
information had very little comfort in it.
So among them they unharnessed the mare and managed to disengage
her from the vehicle and get her to her feet.
"She's all sound," said the man, after a careful overhauling.
"She's a cad," said Dick, "and I shouldn't have been sorry if she'd
broken her neck. Look at the smash she's made."
The trap was indeed far worse damaged than they supposed as first. Not
only was a shaft broken, but a wheel was off, and the rail all along one
side was torn away. It was clear there was no more driving to be got out
of it that afternoon, and the boys gave up the attempt to raise it in
disgust.
"Do you know Tom, our man--Ashford's man?" said Dick.
"Who? Tom Tranter? Yes, I knows him."
"Well, you'll meet him on the road between here and Markridge,
walking, or perhaps running. Tell him we've had a spill and he'd better
see after the trap, will you? We'll go on."
"What about the horse, though?" said Heathcote.
"I suppose we shall have to take the beast along with us. We can't leave
her here."
"I think we'd better stop till Tom comes, and all go on together,"

suggested Heathcote.
"I suppose you funk it with Ashford," said Dick whose temper was
somewhat ruffled by misfortune. "I don't. If you two like to stop you
can. I'll go on with the mare."
"Oh, no, we'll all come," said Heathcote. "I'm not afraid, no more is
Coote."
"All serene then, come on. Mind you tell Tom, I say," added he to the
carter. "Good-bye, and thanks awfully."
And they departed in doleful procession, Dick, with the whip in his
hand, leading the mare by the mouth, and Heathcote and Coote
following like chief mourners, just out of range of the animal's heels.
"What shall we say to Ashford?" asked Heathcote, after a little.
"Say? What do you mean?" said Dick.
"He's sure to ask us what has happened."
"Well, we shall tell him, I suppose."
"There'll be an awful row."
"Of course there will."
"We shall get licked."
"Of course we shall. What of it?"
"Only," said Heathcote, with a little hesitation, "I suppose there's no
way of getting out of it?"
"Not unless you tell lies. You and Coote can tell some if you like--I
shan't."
"I'm not going to tell any," said Coote, "I've told quite enough in my

exam. papers."
"Oh, of course, I don't mean telling crams," said Heathcote, who really
didn't exactly know what he did mean. "I'll back you up, old man."
"Thanks. I say, as we are in a row, mightn't we just as well take it out
of this beastly horse? If Coote led him you and I could take cock shots
at him from behind."
"Oh, yes," said Coote, "and hit me by mistake; not if I know it."
"We might aim at Coote," suggested Heathcote, by way of solving the
difficulty, "and hit the mare by mistake."
"Perhaps it would be rather low," said Dick. "I don't see, though, why
she shouldn't carry us. She's a long back; plenty of room for all three of
us."
"The middle for me," said Coote.
"Think she'd kick up?" asked Heathcote.
"Not she, she couldn't lift with all of us on her. Come on. Whoa! you
beast. Give us a leg up, somebody. Whoa! Hold her head, Coote, and
keep her from going round and round. Now then. By Jove! what a way
up it is!"
By a mighty effort of combined hoisting and climbing, the boys, one
after the other, scaled the lofty ridge, and perched themselves, as
securely as they could, well forward on the mare's long back.
Luckily for them, the patient animal endured her burden meekly, and
plodded on in a listless manner, pricking her ears occasionally at the