"Its Mrs. Hoggarth; her husband's the carrier," Mabel explained. "Come on! We must stop her! She mustn't beat the pony like that!"
Vane strode down the hill, and when they approached the cart Mabel called indignantly to the woman.
"Stop! You oughtn't to do that! The load's too heavy! Where's Hoggarth?"
Vane seized one rein close up to the bit and turned the pony until the cart was across the road. When he had done so, the woman looked around at Mabel.
"Wheel went over his foot last night. He canna get on his boot. I'm none fond of beating pony, but bank's steep and we mun gan up. The folks mun have their things."
Vane glanced at the pony, which stood with lowered head and heaving flank. It was evident that the animal could do no more.
"There's only one way out of the trouble," he said. "We must pack some of this truck to the top. What's in those bags?"
"One's oats," answered the woman. "It's four bushel. Other one's linseed cake. Those slates for Bell's new stable are the heaviest."
Carroll came up with Evelyn just then, and Vane spoke to him.
"Come here and help me with this bag!"