ed creatures reared, neighing
fearfully in consort, and at the gibberish hurled back on them by
their flamed-eyed master, broke in rout, and fled.

Whereupon, unpausing, he ran back to me, only just in time to rescue
me from the nearer thunder yet of those who had seized the very acme
of their opportunity to beat out my brains.

It was a long and arduous and unequal contest. I wished very heartily
I could bear a rather less passive part. But this fearless creature
scarcely heeded me; used me like a helpless child, half tenderly, half
roughly, displaying ever and again over his shoulder only a fleeting
glance of the shallow glories of his eyes, as if to reassure me of his
power and my safety.

But the latter, those distant savannahs will bear witness, seemed
forlorn enough. My eyes swam with weariness of these crested,
earth-disdaining battalions. I sickened of the heat of the sun, the
incessant sidelong jolting, the amazing green. But on we went, fleet
and stubborn, into ever-thickening danger. How feeble a quarry amid so
many hunters!

Two things grew clearer to me each instant. First, that every movement
and feint of our pursuers was of design. Not a beast that wheeled but
wheeled to purpose; while the main body never swerved, thundered
superbly on toward the inevitable end. And next I perceived with even
keener assurance that my guide knew his country and his enemy and his
own power and aim as perfectly and consummately; knew, too--this was
the end.

Far distant in front of us there appeared to be a break in the level
green, a fringe of bushes, rougher ground. For this refuge he was
making, and from this our mutinous Houyhnhnms meant to keep us.

There was no pausing now, not a glance behind. His every effort was
bent on speed. Speed indeed it was. The wind roared in my ears. Yet
above its surge I heard the neighing and squealing, the
ever-approaching shudder of hoofs. My eyes distorted all they looked
on. I seemed now floating twenty feet in air; now skimming within
touch of ground. Now that sorrel squadron behind me swelled and
nodded; now dwindled to an extreme minuteness of motion.

Then, of a sudden, a last, shrill paean rose high; the hosts of our
pursuers paused, billow-like, reared, and scattered--my poor Yahoo
leapt clear.

For an instant once again in this wild journey I was poised, as it
were, in space, then fell with a crash, still clutched, sure and
whole, to the broad shoulders of my rescuer.