beautiful than all the gold in the world.
”
“They’re not all that benevolent. I’ve known a falling branch impale a man. Imagine one falling three or two hundred feet. It happens now and then. We call those branches widow-makers out here.”
I looked up at the tall trees and shuddered.
‘ “In the midst of life we are in death,” quoted Stirling half serious, half mocking.
I didn’t want this morning spoilt by talk of death so I whipped up Tansy and galloped off. Stirling came up behind and passed me. Then it happened. I had been aware all the morning that I was managing Tansy only because she was permitting me to do so. I heard a strange mocking laugh not far off;
perhaps Tansy heard it too, I don’t quite know what happened but suddenly I was sailing over her head. I had the sense to release the reins when I saw I was falling and luck was with me on that day. I was tossed into a heap of bush, growing up three or four feet from the ground; it was thick and strong enough to hold me. I was scratched and shocked but I was alive. For some moments I was bewildered, staring up at the sky, trying to grasp the bracken which scratched my hands and was breaking under my weight. Then I heard again that mocking laughter and in my somewhat bemused state I half believed that Lynx was somewhere at hand where he could witness and enjoy my plight.
I heard Stirling calling me; and there he was, extricating me from the bush, an expression of great concern on his face.
He said: “Can you stand?”
“Yes … but my ankle hurts.”
“Sit down,” he commanded, and I sat on the grass while he knelt beside me.
He gently pulled off my boot. My ankle was swollen.
“Sprained no doubt,” he said.
“What happened?”
Where’s Tansy? “
“I saw her making off. She’ll go home. She knows the way. But what, for heaven’s sake …?”
“Someone laughed and then 1 was in the bush.”
“Laughed! Who?”
“I don’t know. It was so close. I think it frightened Tansy and so she threw me.”
“We’d better get back,” he said.
“We’ll have to see what damage is done. I’ll take you on Weston.” He whistled and Weston came obediently. As he helped me to mount I heard the laughter again—one burst followed by another.
There! “
“Those are birds. The old kookaburras. You’ll have to get used to their laughter for you’ll hear it often enough.”
So I was carried ignobly home to find that Tansy had already returned.
I had been extremely fortunate to have emerged with nothing more than a few bruises and a sprained ankle, but I was sick with shame wondering what Lynx would say when he heard of my adventure.
Adelaide greeted us with relief.
T heard that Tansy had come home and that you rode her this morning.
”
Her voice was faintly reproachful. Hadn’t her father said I should ride Blundell?
“She was all right until she was startled,” I explained.
“I managed her all right until then.”
Adelaide was concerned, but I discovered that accidents here were not treated with the same anxiety as they would be at home, because here in the bush they were so frequent. Adelaide applied hot and cold compresses, telling me that she had studied first aid as it was often necessary since there could be a delay of two or three days before a doctor arrived. She made me drink a cup of hot sweet tea and said I must keep my weight off my ankle for the next day or so.
I felt stupid and ashamed of myself but I was relieved that the horse had come home. I lay on a couch in Adelaide’s sitting-room. I should be quiet for a while, she said; and when I felt a little recovered from my shock I could read or perhaps do some sewing. There was always a great deal to be done at Whiteladies.
I lay by the open window and thought of how foolish I had been to have ridden a horse which was far too good for me.
“Pride goeth before a fall,” Miss Emily had said often enough; and for once I had to admit that she
”
“They’re not all that benevolent. I’ve known a falling branch impale a man. Imagine one falling three or two hundred feet. It happens now and then. We call those branches widow-makers out here.”
I looked up at the tall trees and shuddered.
‘ “In the midst of life we are in death,” quoted Stirling half serious, half mocking.
I didn’t want this morning spoilt by talk of death so I whipped up Tansy and galloped off. Stirling came up behind and passed me. Then it happened. I had been aware all the morning that I was managing Tansy only because she was permitting me to do so. I heard a strange mocking laugh not far off;
perhaps Tansy heard it too, I don’t quite know what happened but suddenly I was sailing over her head. I had the sense to release the reins when I saw I was falling and luck was with me on that day. I was tossed into a heap of bush, growing up three or four feet from the ground; it was thick and strong enough to hold me. I was scratched and shocked but I was alive. For some moments I was bewildered, staring up at the sky, trying to grasp the bracken which scratched my hands and was breaking under my weight. Then I heard again that mocking laughter and in my somewhat bemused state I half believed that Lynx was somewhere at hand where he could witness and enjoy my plight.
I heard Stirling calling me; and there he was, extricating me from the bush, an expression of great concern on his face.
He said: “Can you stand?”
“Yes … but my ankle hurts.”
“Sit down,” he commanded, and I sat on the grass while he knelt beside me.
He gently pulled off my boot. My ankle was swollen.
“Sprained no doubt,” he said.
“What happened?”
Where’s Tansy? “
“I saw her making off. She’ll go home. She knows the way. But what, for heaven’s sake …?”
“Someone laughed and then 1 was in the bush.”
“Laughed! Who?”
“I don’t know. It was so close. I think it frightened Tansy and so she threw me.”
“We’d better get back,” he said.
“We’ll have to see what damage is done. I’ll take you on Weston.” He whistled and Weston came obediently. As he helped me to mount I heard the laughter again—one burst followed by another.
There! “
“Those are birds. The old kookaburras. You’ll have to get used to their laughter for you’ll hear it often enough.”
So I was carried ignobly home to find that Tansy had already returned.
I had been extremely fortunate to have emerged with nothing more than a few bruises and a sprained ankle, but I was sick with shame wondering what Lynx would say when he heard of my adventure.
Adelaide greeted us with relief.
T heard that Tansy had come home and that you rode her this morning.
”
Her voice was faintly reproachful. Hadn’t her father said I should ride Blundell?
“She was all right until she was startled,” I explained.
“I managed her all right until then.”
Adelaide was concerned, but I discovered that accidents here were not treated with the same anxiety as they would be at home, because here in the bush they were so frequent. Adelaide applied hot and cold compresses, telling me that she had studied first aid as it was often necessary since there could be a delay of two or three days before a doctor arrived. She made me drink a cup of hot sweet tea and said I must keep my weight off my ankle for the next day or so.
I felt stupid and ashamed of myself but I was relieved that the horse had come home. I lay on a couch in Adelaide’s sitting-room. I should be quiet for a while, she said; and when I felt a little recovered from my shock I could read or perhaps do some sewing. There was always a great deal to be done at Whiteladies.
I lay by the open window and thought of how foolish I had been to have ridden a horse which was far too good for me.
“Pride goeth before a fall,” Miss Emily had said often enough; and for once I had to admit that she
Similar Books
