Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/87

Rh promptly. "Have you much further to go, when the river is crossed?"

"Not above another mile," replied Ann. "And if you can't stay the night at the farm, sir, we can put you in the way of coming back by a path, a little higher up, where there's a ferry-boat to take you across."

"Thanks," replied Tregenna. "I wish I could avail myself of your hospitality, but I must return to my boat to-night."

They were descending the hill in the same jog-trot fashion, and were within a few yards of the river, which was flowing swiftly, and looked, Tregenna thought, somewhat perilous to negotiate, when Ann uttered an exclamation of dismay.

"Mercy on me!" cried she, in a tone of great annoyance, "if I haven't dropped my whip! And it'll need all the lashing I can give her to get the mare across, with the river running as swift as it does to-night."

She had reined in the animal, and was peering round in the road with anxious eyes.

"Did you mind, sir, when I had it last? Nay, nay, for sure you don't. You'd have spoken if you'd seen it drop. Would you hold