“Hurry! Not a moment is to be lost!”
The trail was narrow, but an expert animal could turn.
“Don’t take the risk!” commanded the Major excitedly; “give me your hand and dismount.”
“I can do it; let me alone.”
Without hesitation, she jerked the head of the pony around, so as to face the appalling slope, and, speaking firmly to him, continued pulling strongly on the bit.
“It is madness! You will both be carried over.”
But she gave no heed. The intelligent animal pressed his haunches against the rocky wall, and began carefully turning. His four hoofs were set close together, the front ones on the very edge of the abyss, over which his head projected, and down which the dirt began crumbling. The support of one hoof yielded and he sank partly sideways. The Major uttered an angry exclamation and tried to snatch his sister from the saddle. She resisted and not for a second did she lose her superb nerve. The horse saved both by partly rearing, and with his fore legs in air swung round as if on a pivot and set his feet down again on firm earth, with his nose pointed toward the Castle. She twitched the rein and spoke sharply. He broke into a gallop up the path, with the indignant officer running at his heels, and Guzman close behind him.
“’Twas the maddest folly I ever saw, but heavens! what nerve!”
Brief as was the distance, when they reached the summit of the trail, Martella dashed up after them.
“I saw him!” he said excitedly; “he came on the gunboat and has several officers with him; they will pass within a few minutes.”