Sylvia would have liked to ask many things of her companion but his attention was completely absorbed by the animals he drove.  Also talking was wellnigh impossible during that wild progress, for though the horses presently sobered down somewhat, the roughness of the way was such that most of the time her thoughts were concentrated upon maintaining her seat.  She clung to her perch with both hands, and mutely admired Burke Ranger’s firm control and deftness.  He seemed to know by instinct when to expect any sudden strain.

The heat of the sun was intense, notwithstanding the shelter afforded by the hood of the cart.  The air seemed to quiver above the burning earth.  She felt after a time as if her eyes could endure the glare no longer.  The rapid, bumping progress faded into a sort of fitful unpleasant dream through which the only actual vivid consciousness that remained to her centred in the man beside her.  She never lost sight of his presence.  It dominated all besides, though he drove almost entirely in silence and never seemed to look her way.

At the end of what appeared an interminable stretch of time during which all her sensibilities had gradually merged into one vast discomfort, Burke spoke at her side.

“We’ve got a bit of tough going before us.  Hang on tight!  We’ll have a rest after it.”

She opened her eyes and saw before her a steep slant between massive stones, leading down to a wide channel of running water.  On the further side a similar steep ascent led up again.

“Ritter Spruit,” said Ranger.  “It’s not deep enough to be dangerous.  Hold on!  We shall soon be through.”

He spoke to the horses and they gathered themselves as if for a race.  They thundered down the incline and were dashing through the stony watercourse almost before Sylvia, clinging dazed to her seat, realized what was happening.  Her sensations were indescribable.  The water splashed high around them, and every bone in her body seemed to suffer a separate knock or jar.  If Ranger had not previously impressed her with his level-headedness she would have thought him mad.  But her confidence in him remained unshaken, and in a very few seconds it proved to be justified.  They were through the spruit and halfway up the further side before she drew breath.  Then she found that they were slackening pace.

She turned to Ranger with kindling eyes.  “Oh, you are a sportsman!” she said.  “How I should love to be able to drive like that!”

He smiled without turning his head.  “I’m afraid this last is a man’s job.  So you are awake now, are you?  I was afraid you were going to tumble out.”

She laughed.  “The heat makes one drowsy.  I shall get used to it.”

He was pulling in the horses.  “There’s some shade round the corner.  We’ll rest for an hour or two.”

“I shall like that,” said Sylvia.

A group of small larch-trees grew among the stones at the top of the slope, and by these he stopped.  Sylvia looked around her with appreciation as she alighted.