Eben King 's horse was tied at the door . He had nothing to do but step in and drive off . Bruce had put his mare in at Billy Bender 's across the bridge , intending to spend the evening there . He knew that this would handicap him seriously , but he strode down the road with a determined expression on his handsome face . Fifteen minutes later he drove past the store , his gray mare going at a sharp gait . The crowd in front of Plowden 's cheered him , their sympathies were with him for King was not popular . Tony had come out and shouted , `` Here 's luck to you , brother , '' after which he doubled up with renewed laughter . Such a lark ! 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 XXXXX Ramble Valley .
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