’Twas on the morning of the fourth day there befel them a strange adventure, and one which had near ended in dark tragedy for one human being at least.

The horse his lordship rode was a beautiful fiery creature, and sometimes from sheer pleasure in his spirit, his master would spur him to a wild gallop in which he went like the wind’s self, showing a joy in the excitement of it which was beauteous to behold.  When this fourth morning they had been but about an hour upon the road, Roxholm gave to the creature’s glossy neck the touch which was the signal ’twas his delight to answer.

“Watch him shoot forward like an arrow from a bow,” my lord said to Mr. Fox, and the next instant was yards away.

He flew like the wind, his hoofs scarce seeming to touch the earth as he sped forward, my lord sitting like a Centaur, his face aglow with pleasure, even Mr. Fox’s soberer animal taking fire somewhat and putting himself at a gallop, his rider’s elderly blood quickening with his.

One side of the road they were upon was higher than the other and covered with a wood, and as Mr. Fox followed at some distance he beheld a parlous sight.  At a turn in the way, down the bank, there rushed a woman, a frantic figure, hair flying, garments disordered, and with a shriek flung herself full length upon the earth before my lord Marquess’s horse, as if with the intent that the iron hoofs should dash out her brains as they struck ground again.  Mr. Fox broke forth into a cry of horror, but even as it left his lips he beheld a wondrous thing, indeed, though ’twas one which brought his heart into his throat.  The excited beast’s fore parts were jerked upward so high that he seemed to rear till he stood almost straight upon his hind legs, his fore feet beating the air; then, by some marvel of strength and skill, his body was wheeled round and his hoofs struck earth at safe distance from the prostrate woman’s head.

My lord sprang from his back and stood a moment soothing his trembling, the animal snorting and panting, the foam flying from his nostrils in his terror at a thing which his friend and master had never done to him before.  The two loved each other, and in Roxholm’s heart there was a sort of rage that he should have been forced to inflict upon him so harsh a shock.

The woman dragged herself half up from the white dust on which she had lain.  She was shuddering convulsively, her long hair was hanging about her, her eyes wild and anguished, and her lips shivering more than trembling.

“Oh, God!  Oh, God!” she wailed, and then let herself drop again and writhed, clutching at the white dust with her hands.

“Are you mad?” said Roxholm, sternly, “or only in some hysteric fury?  Would you have your brains dashed out?”

She flung out her arms, tearing at the earth still and grinding her teeth.

“Yes—­dashed out!” she cried; “all likeness beaten from my face that none might know it again.  For that I threw myself before you.”