The Young Buglers | Page 7

reins, Peter, and help me pull."
Peter did so; but the united strength of the boys was wholly unequal to
arresting the headlong flight of the horses.
Fortunately the highwaymen had chosen a low bottom between two
hills, to arrest the coach, consequently the road was up a hill of
moderate steepness. The boys hoped that the horses would stop when
they got to the top; but they went on with redoubled speed.
"This is something like going it," Peter said.
"Isn't it, Peter? They know their way, and we ain't lively to meet
anything in the road. They will stop at their stable. At any rate, it's no
use trying to steer them. Here, Rhoda dear, get up; are you very much
frightened?"
Rhoda still lay quite still, and Peter, holding on with difficulty, for the
coach quite rocked with the speed at which they were going, climbed
over to her, and stooped, down. "Shall I help you up, Rhoda?"
"No, please, I would rather stop here till it's all over."

Fortunately the hill, up to the Tillage where they made the change, was
a steep one, and the horses broke into a trot before they reached the top,
and, in another minute drew up at the door of the inn. The astonishment
of the ostlers at seeing the horses covered with lather, and coachbox
tenanted only by two boys, behind whom a little white face now peered
out, was extreme, and they were unable to get beyond an ejaculation of
hallo! expressive of a depth of incredulous astonishment impossible to
be rendered by words.
"Look here," Tom said, with all the composure, and much of the
impudence, which then, as now, characterized the young Etonian,
"don't be staring like a pack of stuck pigs. You had better get the fresh
horses in, and drive back to the bottom, about four miles from here.
There has been regular row with some fellows, and I expect two or
three are killed. Now, just put up the ladder; I want to get my sister
down."
Almost mechanically the men put the ladder up to the coach, and the
boys and Rhoda got down.
"Do you say the coach has been attacked by highwaymen in Burnet
bottom?"
"I don't know anything about Burnet bottom," Tom said. "It was a
bottom about four miles off. There were three of them. The guard shot
one of them, and the others shot the guard. Then we were stopped by
them, and every one had to get down. Then the horses ran away, and
here we are."
"Then there are two of those highwayman chaps with the passengers,"
one of the men said.
"You need not be afraid of them," Tom said carelessly; "one got shot,
and I don't know about the other, but the wheel of the coach went over
him, so I do not suppose he will be much trouble. Now, if I were you, I
should not stand staring any more, but should make haste and take the
coach back."

"Hullo, look at this grey," one of the men exclaimed, as, at last
understanding what had taken place, they began to bustle about to
change horses. "He's got blood all over the side of his head. One of
those scoundrels has shot him through the ear."
Tom burst out laughing. "I am the scoundrel!" he said. "Peter, that
explains why we went off so suddenly. I missed the fellow, and hit the
leader in the ear. However, it comes to the same thing. By the way, we
may as well take the pistols."
So saying, he ran up the ladder and brought down the pistols. By this
time the fresh horses were in.
"I can't make nought of it," one of the ostlers said, climbing up into the
coachman's seat. "Jump up, Bill and Harry. It's the rummiest go I ever
heard of in coaching."
"Landlady, can you get us some tea at once, please," Tom said, going
up to the landlady, who was looking on from the door of the house with
an astonishment equal to that of the men at the whole affair; "as quickly
as you can, for my sister looks regularly done up with fatigue, and then,
please let her lie down till the coach is ready to start again. It will be
three quarters of an hour before it is back, and then, I daresay, there
will be a lot of talking before they go on. I should think they will be
wanting breakfast. At any rate, an hour's rest will do you good, Rhoda."
Rhoda was too worn out with the over-excitement even to answer.
Fortunately there was hot water in order to make hot grog for the
outriders of the coach, some tea was quickly made, and in