CHAPTER LVII. A PERILOUS DRIVE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 373, 1 June 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER LVII. A PERILOUS DRIVE.

Meanwhile Mr Denver tvas enjoying himself thoroughly. He was seated on a bench between Ethel and Mrs Fanshaw, puffing away at a perfect cigar, and indulging i« remarks of a more jocular and personal than delicate nature. At half-past eleven the coach came round to the door, and, after some usual delay, they all remounted ; Mrs Fanshaw occupying the box seat, whilst Dulcie, Marian, and Lord Rasper went to the back of the vehicle, facing the grooms. The s-ky had become cloudy, and, the moon being hidden, the night was how very dark ; so dark, that it was extremely difficult to see objects on the road. Mr Denver took up the reins carelessly, flourished his whip, and the horses ga\e one or two eager plunges, and then started off down the avenue at a rapid trot. In Mr Denver's evidently excited condition it proved an anxious moment turning into the narrow lane beyond, and the spliu-ter-bar on the near side grazed tho lodgesate In an ominous fashion as they did so. Mr Denver set his teeth, whilst the muscles of his neck and wrist began to swell. The horses were now pulling double, and the most inexperienced eye could detect what slight control he retained over them. The overhanging trees slapped Dulcie's face as they tore past them— for she happened to be sitting on the outside seat — whilst the rushing air, the pace, and the darkness combined, produced an unwonted sense of exhilaration. At last there seemed a chance, and a very good one, of something happening. What, she scarcely knew. She held her breath, and there was a tightening round her heart that stilled its beatings ; but though the other ladies began to shriek and call out as the body of the coach swayed hetvily to and fro, she never uttered a sound. It was nob fear that filled her thoughts, but hope. Faster and fa-ter flew the horses, break ing from a trot to a canter, trom a canter to°a headlong gallop. They were quite out of hand. Their hoofs rattled on the hard road with a horrible distinctness, the harness jingled, and the wheels sped round as if the axle-tree must break. Every moment, as they swung past the corners and jolted against the kerbstones, an accident appeared inevitable. Darkness added to the dangers of the situation. ' Stop, Denver ! for God's sake, stop !' shouted Lord Pushington, who had joined them at dinner. 'Can't you take a puff? 1 and as he spoke great beads of perspiration stoodupon his brow. 'Very sh — sh — shorry, old man, but unfortunately I—lI — I can't,' he hiccoughed in return. - . 'Damnib all! the biute's dead drunk !' cried Lord Pushing ton, moved by personal fear to the expression of an unusually frank sentiment. 'Here, ghe me the reins !' Bub it was too late, for at that moment they ran violently into a hansom cab, which they overturned, whilst the two leaders tumbled head- foremost on the top of the debris. A general smash resulted, although, luckily, the coach itself remained unharmed. ' Sit still, Mrs Denver,' whispered Lord Rasper to Dalcie, who had been thrown violently against her companion. ' We're all right, though Heaven only knows what mischief we are accountable for. I will get down and ascertain the extent of our injuries, and come back in a few minutes to report.' So saying, he descended from the coach, and hastened oft to investigate matters. Mr Denver's two valuable leaders, worth seven hundred guineas a pair, were cut to pieces ; the hansom was a mere wreck, but by a miracle the driver had escaped almost unhurt. Lord Rasper found him and Mr Denver cai ry in o- on a most animated conversation, which was eventually ended by the gentleman making liberal offers of compensation At length, after an intermin able delay, Lose! Pushington mounted 'on to the box seat and drove the coach back to Grosvenor Squaie with the two wheelers, leaving the poor leaders in charge of a groom. During all this time Dulcio sat shivering. She was too excited to go inside out of the cold, and in spite of Lord Rasper's ulster, ■which he had kindly insisted on wrapping round her, she felt the keen night air bitterly. A sense cf indignation against their host stirred the hearts of his gue«ts, and one and all bade him good night in si ! ence, and resolving never again to trust their necks and lives to his coachmanship.