the gates through which they were about to emerge, "there is the
place that I always think a bomb might be thrown from with much
certainty and effect, plump into the middle of us, just as we are
turning the corner."

"I do wish you would leave off talking about such things," said the
Queen reproachfully, "or wait till we are safe home again. How can I
keep on smiling, if you go putting bombs into my head?"

"I was only saying, my dear----"

Suddenly, from behind, an amazing detonation seemed to strike at the
smalls of their backs, throwing them half out of their seats. The glass
slide upon the Queen's side of the coach ran down with a crash, and one
of the large gilt baubles from its roof toppled and fell into the road.
At the same instant a great blast and swirl of smoke blew by, shutting
for a moment the outer world from view. Then loud cries, hullabalooings,
shoutings--a scramble and clatter of hoofs as though three or four
horses had gone down and were up again--a capering flash of pink silk
calves--as the six footmen exploded upon from the rear sought safety in
front where the eight piebald ponies were all standing on end with men
hanging on to their noses. And then further disorder of a less violent
kind, runnings to and fro, and from the crowd waiting ahead a vast and
tumultuous cry rather jovial in its sound.

The King had risen from his seat, and trying to look out and see what
was going on behind had put his head through the glass, his crown acting
as a safe and effective battering ram.

"I do believe there has been an attempt," he said, drawing his head in
again. "That certainly sounded like a bomb; not that I have had much
experience of such things."

Then he did what he should have done at first, and let down the glass.

"I am going to faint," sighed the Queen, sinking back in her seat.

"Nonsense!" said the King sharply. "Pull yourself together, Alicia! You
are not hurt."

"I think I am," she said. But the sharp tone acted as a tonic, and she
settled herself comfortably in her corner and began quietly to cry.

There was still plenty of confusion going on. The piebald ponies had
been brought to a standstill, and some of them were now showing temper.
A voluble and excited crowd was trying to break through the police lines
and grasp the whole situation at a run. Troops were coming to the
rescue; horsemen from the rear dashed by. Then a staff officer galloped
up to the coach window, and reining a ji