And he , Tony , had set it afoot ! It would be a story to tell for years . Marshall , with his lips set and his dreamy gray eyes for once glittering with a steely light , urged Lady Jane up the Wexbridge hill . From its top it was five miles to Ramble Valley by the main road . A full mile ahead of him he saw Eben King , getting along through mud and slush , and occasional big slumpy drifts of old snow , as fast as his clean-limbed trotter could carry him . As a rule Eben was exceedingly careful of his horses , but now he was sending Bay Billy along for all that was in him . For a second Bruce hesitated . Then he turned his mare down the field cut to Malley 's Creek . It was taking Lady Jane 's life and possibly his own in his hand , but it was his only chance . He could never have overtaken Bay Billy on the main road . `` Do your best , Lady Jane , '' he muttered , and Lady Jane plunged down the steep hillside , through the glutinous mud of a ploughed field as if she meant to do it . Beyond the field was a ravine full of firs , through which Malley 's Creek ran . To cross it meant a four-mile cut to Ramble Valley . The ice looked black and rotten . To the left was the ragged hole where Jack Carr 's mare had struggled for her life . Bruce headed Lady Jane higher up . If a crossing could be made at all it was only between Malley 's spring-hole and the old ice road . Lady Jane swerved at the bank and whickered . `` On , old girl , '' said Bruce , in a tense voice . Unwillingly she advanced , picking her steps with cat-like sagacity .
Once her foot went through , XXXXX pulled her up with hands that did not tremble .
Bruce Carr Jane Malley Marshall Tony firs left sagacity years