Over! Paddy came down with a stagger, and lost a pace as he gathered
himself again for the next. None but a born Irishman could have picked
his way as he did among the scattered boulders, or chosen his starting-
point for the lower yet longer leap.
I remember, as we rose at it, I saw Miss Kit quite close, very white,
with her hat gone, and her stirrup swinging loose, but very resolute
still, gripping hard at the pommel with one hand as she tried to wave to
me with the other.
Paddy performed his task nobly, and never broke stride as he settled
down for the few remaining yards of that great race.
We had won, but only just. I had barely time to rein up at a safe
distance from the edge, and turn to meet the oncomers, when there they
were.
Juno, finding her way suddenly obstructed, flung up her head and swerved
inland, and before she could gather herself I had leaned across and
lifted her panting burden in my arm.
Juno might go now for me!
As for Paddy, no one knows how much at that critical moment I owed to
his steady help.
The little lady looked up with a half smile as I set her before me on
the saddle. Then her head fell back on my shoulder in a faint, and I
had the sweetest and (for all we walked the whole way) the shortest ride
home I ever knew.
It was with a sore heart that presently I surrendered my burden to her
mother's arms, and addressed myself to the task of recompensing my brave
Paddy for that day's feat.
While I rubbed him down, up came Martin, and my spirits rose.
"Go along away out of that, you blundering spalpeen," said he, with a
cuff on the ear. "I'll learn you to meddle, so I will. Go and clean
the pots, and let the horse alone."
"Clean the pots yourself," said I, pretty hot, "and leave the horse to
one that can ride him."
He gaped at me in his stupid way.
"You'll swallow it in time," said I, having finished my rubbing down.
"Wait out there, like a jewel, till I put the beast away, and then you
shall call me spalpeen again."
I think he was more astonished to be defied than he chose to confess.
Anyway he waited for me.
"Now," said I, "Mister Martin, I'm waiting for you."
He made a lunge at me, which I dodged, and before he knew where he was I
had him on the cheek-bone so suddenly that he slipped and tumbled on the
ground.
I was two years older than the day I had fought Tim, poor Tim, on the
cliff at Fanad. And to-day I was so uplifted I could have fought an
army.
So it was a disappointment when Martin stumbled to his feet and sheered
off with a threat of vengeance.
What cared I? Paddy and I had won a race, and my little mistress was
safe.
Yet Martin, as will appear presently, was a man of his word.