Volume I Part 19 (1/2)

Urged by a strong curiosity, he hurried downstairs and made straight for the river by a path that led through the trees; but before he could emerge from the cover he heard cries of ”Not there! not there! Lower down!” ”No, no! up higher! up higher! Head up the stream, or you 'll be caught in the gas.h.!.+” ”Don't hurry; you've time enough!”

When he gained the bank, it was to see three hors.e.m.e.n, who seemed to be cheering, or, as it might be, warning a young girl who, mounted on a powerful black horse, was deep in the stream, and evidently endeavoring to cross it. Her hat hung on the back of her neck by its ribbon, and her hair had also fallen down; but one glance was enough to show that she was a consummate horsewoman, and whose courage was equal to her skill; for while steadily keeping her horse's head to the swift current, she was careful not to control him overmuch, or impede the free action of his powers. Heeding, as it seemed, very little the counsels or warnings showered on her by the bystanders, not one of whom, to Conyers's intense amazement, had ventured to accompany her, she urged her horse steadily forward.

”Don't hurry,--take it easy!” called out one of the hors.e.m.e.n, as he looked at his watch. ”You have fifty-three minutes left, and it's all turf.”

”She 'll do it,--I know she will!” ”She 'll lose,--she must lose!” ”It's ten miles to Foynes Gap!” ”It's more!” ”It's less!” ”There!--see!--she's in, by Jove! she's in!” These varying comments were now arrested by the intense interest of the moment, the horse having impatiently plunged into a deep pool, and struck out to swim with all the violent exertion of an affrighted animal. ”Keep his head up!” ”Let him free, quite free!”

”Get your foot clear of the stirrup!” cried out the bystanders, while in lower tones they muttered, ”She would cross here!” ”It's all her own fault!” Just at this instant she turned in her saddle, and called out something which, drowned in the rush of the river, did not reach them.

”Don't you see,” cried Conyers, pa.s.sionately, for his temper could no longer endure the impa.s.sive att.i.tude of this on-looking, ”one of the reins is broken, her bridle is smashed?”

And, without another word, he sprang into the river, partly wading, partly swimming, and soon reached the place where the horse, restrained by one rein alone, swam in a small circle, fretted by restraint and maddened by inability to resist.

”Leave him to me,--let go your rein,” said Conyers, as he grasped the bridle close to the bit; and the animal, accepting the guidance, suffered himself to be led quietly till he reached the shallow. Once there, he bounded wildly forward, and, splas.h.i.+ng through the current, leaped up the bank, where he was immediately caught by the others.

By the time Conyers had gained the land, the girl had quitted her saddle and entered the cottage, never so much as once turning a look on him who had rescued her. If he could not help feeling mortified at this show of indifference, he was not less puzzled by the manner of the others, who, perfectly careless of his dripping condition, discussed amongst themselves how the bridle broke, and what might have happened if the leather had proved tougher.

”It's always the way with her,” muttered one, sulkily.

”I told her to ride the match in a ring-snaffle, but she's a mule in obstinacy! She 'd have won easily--ay, with five minutes to spare--if she'd have crossed at Nunsford. I pa.s.sed there last week without wetting a girth.”

”She 'll not thank _you_ young gentleman, whoever you are,” said the oldest of the party, turning to Conyers, ”for your gallantry. She 'll only remember you as having helped her to lose a wager!”

”That's true!” cried another. ”I never got as much as thank you for catching her horse one day at Lyrath, though it threw me out of the whole run afterwards.”

”And this was a wager, then?” said Conyers.

”Yes. An English officer that is stopping at Sir Charles's said yesterday that n.o.body could ride from Lowe's Folly to Foynes as the crow flies; and four of us took him up--twenty-five pounds apiece--that Polly Dill would do it,--and against time, too,--an hour and forty.”

”On a horse of mine,” chimed in another,--”Bayther-s.h.i.+ni”

”I must say it does not tell very well for your chivalry in these parts,” said Conyers, angrily. ”Could no one be found to do the match without risking a young girl's life on it?”

A very hearty burst of merriment met this speech, and the elder of the party rejoined,--

”You must be very new to this country, or you'd not have said that, sir.

There's not a man in the hunt could get as much out of a horse as that girl.”

”Not to say,” added another, with a sly laugh, ”that the Englishman gave five to one against her when he heard she was going to ride.”

Disgusted by what he could not but regard as a most disgraceful wager, Conyers turned away, and walked into the house.

”Go and change your clothes as fast as you can,” said Miss Barrington, as she met him in the porch. ”I am quite provoked you should have wetted your feet in such a cause.”

It was no time to ask for explanations; and Conyers hurried away to his room, marvelling much at what he had heard, but even more astonished by the att.i.tude of cool and easy indifference as to what might have imperilled a human life. He had often heard of the reckless habits and absurd extravagances of Irish life, but he fancied that they appertained to a time long past, and that society had gradually a.s.sumed the tone and the temper of the English. Then he began to wonder to what cla.s.s in life these persons belonged. The girl, so well as he could see, was certainly handsome, and appeared ladylike; and yet, why had she not even by a word acknowledged the service he rendered her? And lastly, what could old Miss Barrington mean by that scornful speech? These were all great puzzles to him, and like many great puzzles only the more embarra.s.sing the more they were thought over.

The sound of voices drew him now to the window, and he saw one of the riding-party in converse with Darby at the door. They talked in a low tone together, and laughed; and then the horseman, chucking a half-crown towards Darby, said aloud,--

”And tell her that we 'll send the boat down for her as soon as we get back.”

Darby touched his hat gratefully, and was about to retire within the house when he caught sight of Conyers at the window. He waited till the rider had turned the angle of the road, and then said,--