The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 1024, August 12, 1899

Vol. XX.—No. 1024.]
AUGUST 12, 1899.
A STORY FOR GIRLS.
By EVELYN EVERETT-GREEN, Author of “Greyfriars,” “Half-a-dozen Sisters,” etc.
AT THE EDGE OF THE PLATEAU.
All rights reserved. ]
CAMACHA.
Up, up, up, ceaselessly up. Would the paved road never merge into something more like an English mountain track? Sheila wondered, as her brave little horse pushed steadily and boldly onward, eager as it seemed to breast the long, steep ascents, never asking to pause for a breather, although the riders of their own accord would stop from time to time for the sake of their horses, and of the grooms on foot, who seemed as untiring as the steeds themselves.
“Poor fellows, we will give them a drink here,” said Ronald, as they reached a little plateau where there was one of the numerous drinking bars of the island. “It must be jolly hot work keeping up with these plucky little horses. Let us rest a moment whilst they refresh themselves.”
“And let the others come up,” answered Sheila looking backwards and downwards. “We have quite left them behind.”
“Oh, they’ll come up all in good time,” answered Ronald carelessly. “One can’t ride in a cavalcade in these narrow roads.”
For the peculiarity of Madeira is that for miles and miles the roads run between walls, with houses or cultivated ground behind them. It is only as the heights are reached that these walls are left behind, and more open country reached. Often the road is so narrow that two horses can barely ride abreast.