We haven't a minute to waste.

I want to be in Ballymoy a clear hour before the judge arrives there." He mounted the bicycle as he spoke, and rode off at full speed.

The slope of the road was downwards from the place of the halt, and O'Donoghue was able to keep close to Meldon for some time.

He made a number of breathless attempts to speak.
"If you'd only tell me," he panted, "why--" Sometimes he got a little further than the "why." He never succeeded in completely finishing his sentence.

After a while he began to drop behind again.