lph, to see my expectation fulfilled would
have pleased the baser part of me. Once or twice a cartload of peasants
scowled savagely at us as we rushed past on our headlong career, and at
length I had the satisfaction of hearing Miss Randolph rather stiffly
suggest that Jimmy should moderate the pace. He obeyed with a laugh,
which he meant to be recklessly brave, yet indulgent to the weaknesses
of women; but in my ears it only sounded silly. At this moment a
two-wheeled cart with five peasants in it--three men and two women--came
in sight.

As soon as they saw us one of the men--a big, black-browed fellow--held
up his hand imperatively in warning. Another fine, muscular chap jumped
down and ran to the horse's head. Anyone with a grain of sense or
consideration, on seeing these signals, would have slowed down, and if
necessary have stopped the engine altogether; but though I heard Miss
Randolph beg him to go slow, Sherlock-Fauntleroy held right on at a good
twenty-five miles an hour.

In a moment or two we had come level with the cart, and the horse
bolted. The man leading it was thrown violently to the ground, and the
cart went over him. Luckily he tucked in his head and drew up his feet,
or he would have been shockingly hurt, perhaps killed. He lay a moment
or two, half stunned with the shock, while the horse galloped away,
dragging after him the swaying cart, the two women screaming at the top
of their voices. The man driving managed to pull up the frightened
animals some way down the road, and the people in the cart scrambled out
to help their fallen friend, who meanwhile had picked himself up, and
pale with fright and passion, blood streaming down his face, was
limping after the car gesticulating violently.

Payne had not turned his head, and the moment that a startled "Oh!" from
Miss Randolph told him there had been an accident he put on speed,
clearly with the intention of avoiding a row. The injured man stooped to
pick up a stone. At the same instant Miss Randolph, in her most
imperious manner (and she can be imperious), commanded Payne to stop
instantly and go back. "But we shall have the whole pack of them on us
like wolves," he objected. "_Go back!_" she repeated, stamping her
little foot. "I won't hurt a man and drive away." Suddenly Payne pulled
up, and putting in the reverse, we ran slowly into the midst of the
horde of angry peasants, swollen now by many others who had been passing
along the crowded road