"Don't do that! Jump to one side!" cried Sandy, who was now nearer
the mowing machine. "Look out, Miss DeVere!"
"But I want to stop the horses!" Ruth cried. "I must save Alice!"
"You can't do it that way! They'll run you down, or if they don't the
knives will cut you! Jump to one side--I'll try and catch them!"
Ruth had the good sense to obey. She did not really mean to make a
grab for the horses, but to stand in their path as long as she could,
hoping to make them slacken speed. But she had forgotten about the
projecting knives, which, even in their sheath of steel, might
seriously injure her.
Alice, white-faced, but still keeping her wits about her, tried to
follow the shouted directions, and pull on the reins. But either the
horses had the bits in their teeth, or her strength was not enough to
bring them to a stop. On they raced, and, as the meadow was a large
one, they had plenty of room. Alice might be able to guide them
until they tired themselves out, but there was danger that they would
turn into a fence, or that the machine would overturn and crush her
under it.
She had half a notion to leap from the iron seat, and trust to
falling on the soft earth. But she feared she might become entangled
in the reins, or that she would slip, and fall under the flying feet
of the horses, or even on the clattering set of knives.
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