s. So up she got and untied his feet, for he was hobbled, put
the rope round his head, and then managed somehow to clamber up on his
back, basket and all. It was hard work, but she got settled after a bit,
then picking up the rope, called to him to start.

"Gee wug! gee wo!" she called, "get up, you lazy old faggot!" and she
hammered away at his side with her heels with all her might--and her shoes
were none of the daintiest! but in spite of her coaxings and her threats,
her kicks and her thumps, the old horse did not move an inch.

"Come up, can't you! Gee wug, come here!" She beat him and kicked him
again until she was really too tired to move hand or foot; then, when she
had given up in despair, the tiresome creature made a start. But such a
start! he went at a slow snail's pace, and try as Joan would she could not
make him go faster.

At last, though, when she reached the top of a hill, there came from the
valley below the cry of hounds, devil's hounds they must have been, for no
others would be out at that time of night. As soon as the sounds reached
the old horse's ears, he pricked them up, whinnied loudly, and with a toss
of his head and a fling of his tail started away like any young colt.

Away, away, uphill and downhill they tore as fast as the wind. Joan clung
to the horse's mane with both hands, and yelled and yelled to him to stop.
She might as well, though, have held her breath. All her marketing flew
out of her basket, her precious beaver hat was carried away, her shawl was
whisked off her back! On and on the old horse tore, jumping over
everything that came in his way, until Joan was nearly flung from his
back. Presently, too, to her horror she saw that the creature was
growing bigger and bigger, and higher and higher; soon he shot up above
the trees, then he was as high as the church tower. Poor Joan, perched on
his back, grew sick, giddy, and terrified. She was afraid now to slip off
lest she should be dashed to pieces, and was afraid to stay there lest she
should fall off.

For miles and miles they travelled like this, until at last they came to
Toldave Moor, on the further side of which there was, Joan knew, a deep
black pool, and for this pool, to Joan's horror, the monster galloped
straight!

"If I don't slip off now, I shall surely be drowned outright!" thought
poor Joan, for the pond was deep, she felt her powers were failing her;
her hands were numb, her limbs cramped. She kne