“You make a mistake!” “Your ladyship will make a worse mistake if you follow me here,” I replied. Her only rejoinder was a cut with her whip to her horse, which had stood motionless since taking his unwilling jump. I spoke to Zoe; she bounded off like a fawn. I pulled her up, and looked back. Lady Cairnedge continued urging her horse. I heard and saw her whipping him furiously. She had lost her temper. I warned her once more, but she persisted. “Then you must take the consequences!” I said; and Zoe and I made for the road, but at a point nearer home. Had she not been in a passion, she would have seen that her better way was to return to the road, and intercept us; but her anger blinded her both to that and to the danger of the spot she was in. We had not gone far when we heard behind us the soft plunging and sucking of the big hoofs through the boggy ground. I looked over my shoulder. There was the huge bulk, like Wordsworth's peak, towering betwixt us and the stars! “Go, Zoe!” I shrieked. She bounded away. The next moment, a cry came from the horse behind us, and I heard the woman say “Good God!” I stopped, and peered through the dark. I saw something, but it was no higher above the ground than myself. Terror seized me. I turned and rode back. “My stupid animal has bogged himself!” said lady Cairnedge quietly. Deep in the dark watery peat, as thick as porridge, her horse gave a fruitless plunge or two, and sank lower. “For God's sake,” I cried, “get off! Your weight is sinking the poor animal! You will smother him!” “It will serve him right,” she said venomously, and gave the helpless creature a cut across the ears. “You will go down with him, if you do not make haste,” I insisted. Another moment and she stood erect on the back of the slowly sinking horse. “Come and give me your hand,” she cried. “You want to smother me with him! I think I will not,” I answered. “You can get on the solid well enough. I will ride home and bring help for your horse, poor fellow! Stay by him, talk to him, and keep him as quiet as you can. If he go on struggling, nothing will save him.” She replied with a contemptuous laugh. I got to the road as quickly as possible, and galloped home as fast as Zoe could touch and lift. Ere I reached the stable-yard, I shouted so as to bring out all the men. When I told them a lady had her horse fast in the bog, they bustled and coiled ropes, put collars and chains on four draught-horses, lighted several lanterns, and set out with me. I knew the spot perfectly. No moment was lost either in getting ready, or in reaching the place. Neither the lady nor her horse was to be seen.