nough to urge him on, and if you slacken
pace for a few minutes, ten to one but you are passed in your turn.

It was so here with the post-boy and horses of the other chaise: to be
passed here on the road again and again by a rival was not to be borne;
and the slackening under Brace Norton's instructions being taken as a
signal of defeat, there soon came a shout from behind to the Irish boy
to draw aside, one which, being rather sulky at having had a mistake
made in his country, the post-boy refused to heed; and just as Brace was
hopefully gazing from his window for another glance, there came the
crash of wheel against wheel, the swerving aside of the horses, and in
less time than it can be written, to Brace Norton's horror, he saw the
vehicle of his companions of the road overturned--the off-wheels in the
ditch, and one horse kicking and plunging in a way that threatened death
to the occupants of the carriage.

Book 2, Chapter II.

THE WRECK ASHORE.

"'E've done it now, sor, an' I hope ye're satisfied!" said James,
sitting complacently on his saddle, and looking at the plunging horses,
his fellow-servant with one leg entangled in the harness, and the havoc
made at each plunge of the uppermost beast.

"You scoundrel!" exclaimed Brace, furiously, as he leaped down. "Why
didn't you give more room? Here, come and help!"

"Can't lave me bastes, sor, or they'd take fright, they're so full of
sperrit," said the youth, coolly, as, running to the prostrate chaise,
Brace contrived to drag open the door, feeling, as he did so, that he
was alone to blame for the accident.

"Here, quick! my child! help her first," exclaimed the gentleman, but
most needlessly, for the young man had neither look nor thought for him,
but was striving to lift the insensible and bleeding form of the wounded
girl from the wreck. For at the first crash of the overturning chaise
the window had been driven in, and one of the splinters of glass had
gashed her temple.

"Good Heavens! what have I done?" muttered Brace, as he succeeded in
passing his arms round the senseless form, lifted it by main force from
the door, and then bore it to the grass a few yards further on, where,
laying it down, he proceeded to press his handkerchief to the wound.

"Let me come, young man," said a harsh voice at his elbow, and, starting
with surprise, Brace saw that the gentleman, till now forgotten, had
climbed from the chaise, and now made no scruple in thrusting