horse s head, and became aware of the chaise receding from him down the
lane, swaying from side to side, and with the women in it looking back.
The man before him, a burly rough, tried to close, and he stopped him
with a blow in the face. Then, realising that he was deserted, he
dodged round and made off down the lane after the chaise, with the
sturdy man close behind him, and the fugitive, who had turned now,
following remotely.
Suddenly he stumbled and fell; his immediate pursuer went headlong, and
he rose to his feet to find himself with a couple of antagonists again.
He would have had little chance against them had not the slender lady
very pluckily pulled up and returned to his help. It seems she had had
a revolver all this time, but it had been under the seat when she and
her companion were attacked. She fired at six yards distance, narrowly
missing my brother. The less courageous of the robbers made off, and
his companion followed him, cursing his cowardice. They both stopped in
sight down the lane, where the third man lay insensible.
Take this! said the slender lady, and she gave my brother her
revolver.
Go back to the chaise, said my brother, wiping the blood from his
split lip.
She turned without a word they were both panting and they went back to
where the lady in white struggled to hold back the frightened pony.
The robbers had evidently had enough of it. When my brother looked
again they were retreating.
I ll sit here, said my brother, if I may ; and he got upon the empty
front seat. The lady looked over her shoulder.
Give me the reins, she said, and laid the whip along the pony s side.
In another moment a bend in the road hid the three men from my
brother s eyes.
So, quite unexpectedly, my brother found himself, panting, with a cut
mouth, a bruised jaw, and bloodstained knuckles, driving along an
unknown lane with these two women.
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