The descent through the paddock was made chiefly on the pony's back legs, but once on the open road he settled to his paces and conversation was possible. The going was rapid, for uphill or down—and in that part of the world it is always one or the other—seemed to make no difference to Tim.
"'My steed on his journey was gay, As I on my journey to Heaven'" quoted Tom, "a little break-neck, perhaps, for the bush road you promise me for the last part of the way."
"Which shows how little you know of Tim; you will see how soberly and sure-footedly he will pick his way. I believe you are nervous, notwithstanding your boast when you started!"
"Well, I will promise not to have hysterics or clutch at the reins," said Tom, jumping down to open the gate which barred the bush road from the highway. And here it meant careful going, for bullock drays had been lately along carting away some freshly hewn timber, and in many places the cart sank into the ruts almost up to the axles. Tom got out and walked to lighten the weight on the pony's back. It was really pretty to see the dainty way the creature put down its feet, avoiding bigger stones and curvetting past the huge logs that often-times blocked the road, making a diversion into the fern-clothed sides necessary.
"But it's hardly a safe way for even as good a driver as Betty," he thought, and almost before the thought framed itself, Tim was rearing and backing, and then, with a swift swerve, would have smashed himself, Betty, and the cart, against the enormous bole of a tree, but for Tom's hasty dash to his head. For a moment the issue seemed doubtful, but Tom's strong hand and soothing voice brought him into subjection, and he stood trembling from head to foot.
"And what was all the fuss about?" said Tom, patting Tim's head with as much confidence as if they were friends of long standing. "Let's have a look, old man, and see if we can't get over the difficulty," and round the curve which Tim had just come, Tom saw the half length of a tree which had been lately felled from which a long piece of bark had been stripped and the dazzling flicker of sunshine across it had startled Tim and terrified him.
But realizing now what it was, the difficulty was at an end, and Tim passed by without further resistance.
"It's smoother now; you can get in if you like," said Betty, a little crossly, and Tom mounted to her side.
"It's a nasty fall to my pride," she said after a moment. "We should have been smashed up into matchwood but for you, and hitherto I'm the only one in the family with whom Tim has never misbehaved himself."
"But it puts me on equal terms with you again, and soothes my wounded vanity. You can't forget that on the first occasion we met you caught me out at cricket," Tom answered, good-humouredly.