"Just a moment," I told myself,
"and then I'll slip off and run back to the boat"; and twining the
fingers of my left hand in her mane, I took a spring and landed my small
person prone between the two kegs, with no more damage than a barked
shin-bone.
And at that very instant I heard a shrill whistle and many sudden cries
of alarm; and a noise of shouting and galloping across the beach; and
was raising my head to look when the mare rose too, upon her hind legs,
and with the fling of her neck caught me a blow on the nose that made me
see stars. And then long jets of fire seemed to mingle with the stars,
and I heard the _pop-pop_ of pistol-shots and more shouting.
But before this we were off and away--I still flat on the mare's back,
with a hand in her mane and my knees wedged against the tubs; away and
galloping for the head of the beach, with the whole troop of laden
horses pounding at our heels. I could see nothing but the loom of the
cliff ahead and the white shingle underfoot; and I thought of nothing
but to hold on--and well it was that I did, for else the horses behind
had certainly trampled me flat in the darkness. But all the while I
heard shouting, louder and louder, and now came more pounding of hoofs
alongside, or a little ahead, and a tall man on horseback sprang out of
the night, and, cannoning against the mare's shoulder, reached out a
hand to catch her by rein, mane, or bridle.
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