The astonished young animal sprang aside curvetting.
She did not understand, and to horse-nature the uncomprehended is alarming.

She was more bewildered and also more fretted when, in passing the next stone heap, she felt the same stinging touches.

What did it mean?
Was she to avoid this thing, to leap at sight of it, to do what?
She tossed her delicate head and snorted in her trouble.

The country road was at some distance from Palstrey, and was little frequented.

No one was in sight.