Dawn's blood was up, and he cared for nothing and nobody.
Presently he looked behind him, and whipped up the pony afresh.
"They're pursuing us. Now we'll have a mad race!"
He galloped up a country lane, then across a bit of wild common, and then was stopped by the river.
"We'll swim across," he said. "Once on the other side we'll be safe!"
Christina besought him not to venture. "We shall be drowned!" she cried. "Oh, Dawn, do stop; it's only a game!"
But Dawn only thought of Puggy behind him. He looked round, and to his delight saw that there was a pause amongst his pursuers. Something had happened to Puggy's pony. He had dismounted, handed it to one of the village boys, and was tearing along on foot with his followers.
"We must go through the river. They won't come after us there, and we shall be quite safe the other side. Don't be a funk, Tina; we'll ride along a little further. There! A cart has been over here, I see the mark of the wheels; it must be the ford!"
He pushed the pony down to the water. Christina shivered and shuddered. Her fears almost overwhelmed her. "Can I pray to God when it's only a game?" she asked herself, and habit made her repeat her text.
The pony did his best, but his footing was very insecure; he stopped mid-stream and refused to go any further. The current was strong; Dawn leant over Christina to whip him on, then overbalanced himself and fell head foremost into the river. With a start the pony turned back and reached the shore in safety, but Dawn cried out sharply: