Dan and Ted instinctively shouted "Hurrah!" and even Percy stood up to stare after the merry party with longing eyes.
"Hi, quick!" suddenly cried Ted, "they've stopped at that house down there. Let's cut along and get a good look;" and all three boys were soon by the side of the four-in-hand, the occupants of which had gone in to make a call, leaving the sleigh in charge of the coachman.
"Whose is it, I wonder?" whispered Dan, feasting his eyes on the silver-mounted harness, the Russian bells, and the gayly colored plumes.
"I'm pretty certain it doesn't belong in town here," returned Ted.
But just then the coachman called out: "I say, lads, will ye stand by thim layders' heads a bit?"
Dan and Ted at once sprang forward.
"And you," continued the man, turning to Percy, "just climb up to that sate, and hould these lines whilst I take a look at that off-whaler's foot. Don't pull on 'em now, mind ye," concluded the good-natured Irishman, as he assisted young Vance to his high perch, and placed the reins in his hands.
At the same instant Ted and Dan exchanged whispers in which the word "fun" might have been heard. Then, as the coachman's right foot left the step, they both chirruped softly to the horses, and let go their hold.
The effect was almost magical. All four of the spirited animals started off with a jerk that threw the coachman on his back in the street, and came near sending Percy after him.
The terrified driver leaped to his feet in an instant, but how could he hope to stop the team? His shouts and the wild clangor of the bells speedily brought the whole party out of the house, but they, too, were powerless.