"
She turned to me with a flash of her eyes. "What! You are a man," she
broke out, "and you ask a woman to save her life by abandoning a baby!
Hubert, you shame me!"
I felt she was right. If she had been capable of giving it up, she would
not have been Hilda. There was but one other way left.
"Then YOU must take the pony," I called out, "and let me have the
bicycle!"
"You couldn't ride it," she called back. "It is a woman's machine,
remember."
"Yes, I could," I replied, without slowing. "It is not much too short;
and I can bend my knees a bit. Quick, quick! No words! Do as I tell
you!"
She hesitated a second. The child's weight distressed her. "We should
lose time in changing," she answered, at last, doubtful but still
pedalling, though my hand was on the rein, ready to pull up the pony.
"Not if we manage it right. Obey orders! The moment I say 'Halt,' I
shall slacken my mare's pace. When you see me leave the saddle, jump off
instantly, you, and mount her! I will catch the machine before it falls.
Are you ready? Halt, then!"
She obeyed the word without one second's delay. I slipped off, held
the bridle, caught the bicycle, and led it instantaneously.
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