Had he but known it, Rutter's explanation of the lack of danger was true; but in that moment, with his chum's life at stake, Harry didn't care a fig whether the explanation were true or not.
All he thought of was saving Tom.
"I reckon that part of the job has been done well," nodded Rutter, turning back from the horse.

"Now, Reade, I want you to mount behind me and hold on tightly, for we're going to do some hard, swift riding.

The sooner we get you to camp the surer you will be of coming out of this scrape all right." "I've never had much experience in horsemanship, and I may out a sorry figure at it," laughed Reade, as, with Harry's help he got up behind Rutter.
"Horsemanship doesn't count---speed does," replied Rutter tersely.
"Hold on tightly, and we'll make as good time as possible.

I'm going to start now." Away they went, at a hard gallop, Tom doing his best to hold on, but feeling like a jumping-jack.
"It won't take us more than twenty minutes," promised Jack Rutter..