Then in a flash my captor set me down, toppled me over (in plain words) into the thick herbage, and, turning, rushed bellowing, undeviating towards their leaders, till it seemed he must inevitably be borne down beneath their brute weight, and so—­farewell to summer.  But almost at the impact, the baffled creatures reared, neighing fearfully in consort, and at the gibberish hurled back on them by their flamed-eyed master, broke in rout, and fled.

Whereupon, unpausing, he ran back to me, only just in time to rescue me from the nearer thunder yet of those who had seized the very acme of their opportunity to beat out my brains.

It was a long and arduous and unequal contest.  I wished very heartily I could bear a rather less passive part.  But this fearless creature scarcely heeded me; used me like a helpless child, half tenderly, half roughly, displaying ever and again over his shoulder only a fleeting glance of the shallow glories of his eyes, as if to reassure me of his power and my safety.

But the latter, those distant savannahs will bear witness, seemed forlorn enough.  My eyes swam with weariness of these crested, earth-disdaining battalions.  I sickened of the heat of the sun, the incessant sidelong jolting, the amazing green.  But on we went, fleet and stubborn, into ever-thickening danger.  How feeble a quarry amid so many hunters!

Two things grew clearer to me each instant.  First, that every movement and feint of our pursuers was of design.  Not a beast that wheeled but wheeled to purpose; while the main body never swerved, thundered superbly on toward the inevitable end.  And next I perceived with even keener assurance that my guide knew his country and his enemy and his own power and aim as perfectly and consummately; knew, too—­this was the end.

Far distant in front of us there appeared to be a break in the level green, a fringe of bushes, rougher ground.  For this refuge he was making, and from this our mutinous Houyhnhnms meant to keep us.

There was no pausing now, not a glance behind.  His every effort was bent on speed.  Speed indeed it was.  The wind roared in my ears.  Yet above its surge I heard the neighing and squealing, the ever-approaching shudder of hoofs.  My eyes distorted all they looked on.  I seemed now floating twenty feet in air; now skimming within touch of ground.  Now that sorrel squadron behind me swelled and nodded; now dwindled to an extreme minuteness of motion.

Then, of a sudden, a last, shrill paean rose high; the hosts of our pursuers paused, billow-like, reared, and scattered—­my poor Yahoo leapt clear.

For an instant once again in this wild journey I was poised, as it were, in space, then fell with a crash, still clutched, sure and whole, to the broad shoulders of my rescuer.