much, put
a bridle on him, led him out before any one had seen her, and, catching
him by the mane, suddenly threw herself on him at a bound, and, giving
him a tap with a short whip she had caught up in the stable, headed him
for the main avenue and the open road. Then a stableman saw her and ran
after, but he might as well have tried to follow the wind. He forthwith
proceeded to saddle another horse. Boulter also saw her as she passed
the house, and, running in, told Mrs. Armour and the general. They both
ran to the window and saw dashing down the avenue--a picture out of
Fenimore Cooper; a saddleless horse with a rider whose fingers merely
touched the bridle, riding as on a journey of life and death.

"My God, it's Lali! She's mad--she's mad! She is striking that horse! It
will bolt! It will kill her!" cried the general.

Then he rushed for a horse to follow her. Mrs. Armour's hands clasped
painfully. For an instant she had almost the same thought as had Marion
on the first morning of Lali's coming; but that passed, and left
her gazing helplessly after the horse-woman. The flying blanket had
frightened the blooded horse, and he made desperate efforts to fulfil
the general's predictions.

Lali soon found that she had miscalculated. She was not riding an
Indian pony, but a crazed, high-strung horse. As they flew, she sitting
superbly and tugging at the bridle, the party coming from the railway
station entered the great gate, accompanied by Richard and Marion. In
a moment they sighted this wild pair bearing down upon them with a
terrible swiftness.

As Marion recognised Lali she turned pale and cried out, rising in her
seat. Instinctively Captain Vidall knew who it was, though he could not
guess the cause of the singular circumstance. He saw that the horse
had bolted, but also that the rider seemed entirely fearless. "Why,
in Heaven's name," he said between his teeth, "doesn't she let go that
blanket!"

At that moment Lali did let it go, and the horse dashed by them, making
hard for the gate. "Turn the horses round and follow her," said Vidall
to the driver. While this was doing, Marion caught sight of her father
riding hard down the avenue. He passed them, and called to them to hurry
on after him.

Lali had not the slightest sense of fear, but she knew that the horse
had gone mad. When they passed through the gate and swerved into the
road, a less practised rider would have been thrown. She sat like wax.
The pac