But Laura had no such intention. She brought the lash of the whip down upon the mare’s flank. With a snort of surprise and pain the old horse sprang forward and had not Hebe Pocock leaped quickly aside he would have been run over.
But unfortunately neither Eve nor the colt were prepared for this sudden move on Laura’s part. The colt stood stock-still and Eve lost her grip on the bridle rein.
“Go it!” yelled Pocock, laughing with delight. “I got the colt!”
He sprang at the head of Jinks. The women were laughing and shrieking.
“That’s the time I did it!” gasped Laura, in chagrin, pulling down the old mare.
And just then the purring of an automobile sounded in their ears and there rounded the nearest turn in the road a big touring car. It rolled down toward the cart and the group about the colt, with diminished speed.
“Oh! we mustn’t lose that colt after coming so near getting it away,” cried Laura.
“But father can go after it with a constable,” declared Eve, doubtfully.
“But Pocock will get it away from here——”
“Why, Laura Belding!” exclaimed a loud, good-natured voice. “What is the matter here?”