[Charles O’Malley, The Irish Dragoon Volume 1 (of 2) by Charles Lever]@TWC D-Link bookCharles O’Malley, The Irish Dragoon Volume 1 (of 2) CHAPTER XI 4/7
Away they went, at a hunting pace, taking every leap before them, and heading towards the road before us. Without thinking further of the matter, I was laughing at the droll effect the line of frieze coats presented as they rode side by side over the stone-walls, when an observation near me aroused my attention. "Ah, then, av they know anything of Tim Finucane, they'll give it up peaceably; it's little he'd think of taking the coach from under the judge himself." "What are they about, boys ?" said I. "Goin' to take the chaise-and-four forninst ye, yer honor," said the man. I waited not to hear more, but darting spurs into my horse's sides, cleared the fence in one bound.
My horse, a strong-knit half-breed, was as fast as a racer for a short distance; so that when the agent and his party had come up with the carriage, I was only a few hundred yards behind.
I shouted out with all my might, but they either heard not or heeded not, for scarcely was the first man over the fence into the road when the postilion on the leader was felled to the ground, and his place supplied by his slayer; the boy on the wheeler shared the same fate, and in an instant, so well managed was the attack, the carriage was in possession of the assailants.
Four stout fellows had climbed into the box and the rumble, and six others were climbing to the interior, regardless of the aid of steps.
By this time the Dashwood party had got the alarm, and returned in full force, not, however, before the other had laid whip to the horses and set out in full gallop; and now commenced the most terrific race I ever witnessed. The four carriage-horses, which were the property of Sir George, were English thorough-breds of great value, and, totally unaccustomed to the treatment they experienced, dashed forward at a pace that threatened annihilation to the carriage at every bound.
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