," suggested Coote.

"Perhaps, if you pulled both reins at the same time, instead of one at a
time," put in Heathcote, "she wouldn't wobble so much."

"You duffer; she'd stop dead, if I did that."

"Suppose you don't pull either," said Heathcote.

Richardson pooh-poohed the notion, but acted on it all the same, with
highly satisfactorily results. The trap glided along smoothly, and all
anxiety as to the management of the mare appeared to be at an end.

"I left word for Tom," said Richardson, "if he stepped out, he'd catch
us up. Ha, ha! Won't he be wild?"

"Wonder if he'll get us in a row with Ashford?" said Heathcote.

"Not he. What's the harm? Just a little horse-play, that's all."

Heathcote and Coote became grave.

"Look here," said the former, "we let you off last time, but you'll
catch it now. Collar him that side, Coote, and have him over."

"Don't be an idiot, Heathcote," cried the Jehu, as he found himself
suddenly seized on either hand. "Let go, while I'm driving. Do you
hear, Coote; let go, or there'll be a smash!"

But as "letting go" was an accomplishment not taught at Mountjoy House,
Richardson had to adopt stronger measures than mere persuasion in order
to clear himself of his embarrassments.

Dropping the reins and flinging his arms vehemently back, he managed to
dislodge his assailants, though not without dislodging himself at the
same time, and a long and somewhat painful creditors' meeting down in
the waggonette was the consequence.

The mare, whose patience had been gradually evaporating during this
strange journey, conscious of the riot behind her, and feeling the reins
dropping loosely over her tail, took the whole matter very much to
heart, and showed her disapproval of the whole proceedings by taking to
her heels and bolting straight away.

The business meeting inside stood forthwith adjourned. With scared
faces, the boys struggled to their feet, and, holding on to the rail of
the box-seat, peered over to ascertain the cause of this alarming
diversion.

"It's a bolt!" said Richardson, the only one of the three who retained
wits enough to think or speak. "Hang on, you fellows; I'll try and get
the reins. Help me up!"

As well as the swaying of the vehicle would allow it, they helped him
hoist himself up on to the box. But for a long time all his efforts to
catch the reins were in vain, and once or twice it seemed as if nothing
could save him from being pitched off hi