But they tore on the more recklessly. Bel and Addie began to scream, and this increased the fright of the horses. Hemstead looked searchingly for a moment at Lottie, and saw with a thrill that her white face was turned to him and not to De Forrest. "Is there danger?" she asked, in a low tone. "Good God!" exclaimed Harcourt again, "I can't hold them." Hemstead rose instantly, and turning with care in the swaying sleigh braced himself by planting one foot on the middle of the seat. He then said quietly, "Will you give me the reins, Mr. Harcourt? I am well braced and quite strong. Perhaps I can manage them." Harcourt relinquished the reins instantly. "Hush!" Hemstead said sternly to Addie and Bel, and they became quiet,--the weaker minds submitting to the roused and master mind. Fortunately the trouble had occurred where there was a straight and level road, and a little of this still remained. The question with Hemstead was whether he could get control of the rushing steeds before they reached the hill. CHAPTER XII. MISS MARSDEN ASKS SOMBRE QUESTIONS. Lottie Marsden, although greatly alarmed by their critical situation, was naturally too courageous to give way utterly to fear, and not so terrified but that she could note all Hemstead did; and for some reason she believed he would be equal to the emergency. His confidence, moreover, communicated itself to her. She saw that he did not jerk or saw on the reins at first, but, bracing his large powerful frame, drew steadily back, and that the horses yielded somewhat to his masterful grasp. "Pull," cried Harcourt, excitedly; "you can hold them." "Yes, jerk their cursed heads off," shouted De Forrest, in a way that proved his self-control was nearly gone. "Hush, I tell you!" said Hemstead, in a low tone. "I might break the lines if I exerted my whole strength. Then where should we be? I don't wish to put any more strain upon them than I must. See, they are giving in more and more." "But the hill is near," said Harcourt. "You must let me manage in my own way," said Hemstead. "Not another sound from any one." Then in a firm tone, strong but quiet like his grasp upon the reins, he spoke to the horses. In three minutes more he had them prancing with many a nervous start, but completely under his control, down the first descent of the hill. "Will you take the reins again?" he said to Harcourt. "No, hang it all. You are a better horseman than I am." "Not at all, Mr. Harcourt. I am heavier and stronger than you probably, and so braced that I had a great advantage. You had no purchase on them, and were chilled by long driving." "Where did you learn to manage horses?" asked Lottie. "On our Western farm. We had plenty of them. A horse is almost human: you must be very firm and very kind." "Is that the way to treat the 'human'?" said Lottie, her bold and somewhat reckless spirit having so far recovered itself as to enable her to laugh.