way, Finally, he thrust the bushy top beneath his flanks. Whether from the unexpectedness of it, or the rustle of the leaves, or what it was, I don't know, but Tommy plunged in violent action like a horse gone and, rose on his hind legs, plunged again, swung round and capsized everything, including himself and the wildly joyous niggers, into a gully that was lying in wait nearby. Who it was, the grey or the blacks or Harry himself, that got the biggest surprise would be hard to say, but true it is Tommy came out of the gully free of the shafts and stripped of all his harness except the winkers, and a fragment of the reins, and away he bolted. Combo and Curricomb, after reaching the bottom of the gully into which they had been forced, disentangled their ebony limbs, then sprang to their feet and regarded the bewildered Harry for a moment, as though they suspected him of playing them a dirty trick. But all that Harry had in mind was the flying steed, after whom he waved his two hands, and cursed shamelessly. Whether from a sense of understanding, or the inherent love of pursuit and capture, or the sudden determination not to be done out of their joy-ride, it is hard to say, but one quick glance at the absconding grey, then swift as eagles and noisy as hounds those blacks pursued him—pursued him in all their glossy nudity to the very verandah of the station store, where the Governor and big Mary Rumble and mother were holding converse...... but my stars! It calls for the old Governor himself to tell the rest of the happening for it to be fully appreciated.
