A CATASTROPHE AVERTED. 391 



sudden thought struck him. He had a new hunting-horn in 

 the pocket of the carriage, which had been sent home from 

 Percival's that morning, just before he left Grosvenor Square, 

 which instantly seizing, he sent forth a blast so shrill and 

 loud, that it penetrated the waggoner's dull ear amidst his din 

 of bells, and the heavy vehicle was seen turning slowly aside. 

 Still there seemed scarcely a chance of its giving room to pass 

 before the leaders would be even with its hind wheels, and 

 Beauchamp, fearing the crisis was at hand, and telling Malcolm 

 to do the same to Constance, seized Blanche firmly with his 

 right arm round the waist, taking tight hold of the handle of 

 the carriage door with his left. The act was instantaneous, 

 and as they passed the heavy, lumbering machine, the exclama- 

 tion escaped him, " Thank God ! we are saved." Blanche 

 neither moved nor spoke, overcome by Beauchamp' s manner, and 

 the dread of some imminent peril. 



"Now, my love," he whispered, "we have escaped the 

 danger, sit firm a few minutes longer, and I will soon stop your 

 fiery bays." They were already beginning to slacken their pace 

 a little, which was evident to Beauchamp's quick eye, their 

 heads being raised, and their ears becoming erect, when raising 

 his voice he shouted out, " Hold hard ! " In a moment their 

 speed diminished. " Hold hard ! " again cried Beauchamp, " you 

 runaway brutes ! hold hard ! " These words seemed magical. 

 The race was over ; and all four horses stood still. 



" Let them stand till I get out, my lads," Beauchamp cried. 

 He then folded Blanche in his arms, who burst into tears. 



" Come, come, my dear girl, it is all over now, and we will 

 have no more galloping to-day." 



Malcolm, warned by Beauchamp, and following his example, 

 had held Constance tight round the waist as they were passing 

 the waggon, and his face became ghastly pale, with a shudder- 

 ing sensation, as the wheels just grazed each other; but when 

 the danger was over, his levity quickly returned. 



" By Jeremy Diddler ! that was an uncommon near shave— » 

 just half an inch, and — oh ! my, as Mrs. Winter has it — what 

 an liexpose we should have made — all legs and wings sprawling 

 in the road, like two couples of untrussed chickens." 



" For shame, Charles ! " exclaimed Constance, " to make a 

 joke of such a serious matter, when our lives might have been 

 lost through your frolic." 



"Well then, my dear, you and Bland e can do a little d la 

 Niobe, whilst I and Beauchamp look over the nags." 



