| 234 | 235 | 236 | 237 | 238 |
| 1 | 65 | 130 | 195 | 260 |
|
mount.
At the sight of Jessie mounting against the sky line the people coming
up the hill suddenly became excited and ended Jessie's doubts at once.
Two handkerchiefs waved, and some one shouted. The riders of the tandem
bicycle began to run it up hill, past the other vehicles. But our young
people did not wait for further developments of the pursuit. In another
moment they were out of sight, riding hard down a steady incline towards
Stoney Cross.
Before they had dropped among the trees out of sight of the hill brow,
Jessie looked back and saw the tandem rising over the crest, with its
rear rider just tumbling into the saddle. "They're coming," she said,
and bent her head over her handles in true professional style.
They whirled down into the valley, over a white bridge, and saw ahead
of them a number of shaggy little ponies frisking in the roadway.
Involuntarily they slackened. "Shoo!" said Mr. Hoopdriver, and the
ponies kicked up their heels derisively. At that Mr. Hoopdriver lost his
temper and charged at them, narrowly missed one, and sent them jumping
the ditch into the bracken under the trees, leaving the way clear for
Jessie.
Then the road rose quietly but persistently; the treadles grew heavy,
and Mr. Hoopdriver's breath sounded like a saw. The tandem appeared,
making frightful exertions, at the foot, while the chase was still
236
Page
Quick Jump
|