Instinctively he raised his weapon to his shoulder, and then,
in an instant, perceiving that the objects he beheld were not aquatic
birds, he dropped his gun and ran yelling down the road toward the
mill.
But the hollow in the bottom was a narrow one, and when it was passed
the depth of the water gradually decreased. The back of the horse came
into view, the dashboard became visible, and the bodies and the
spirits of the two men rapidly rose. Now there was vigorous splashing
and tugging, and then a jet black horse, shining as if he had been
newly varnished, pulled a dripping wagon containing two well-soaked
men upon a shelving shore.
"Oh, I am chilled to the bones!" said Podington.
"I should think so," replied his friend; "if you have got to be wet,
it is a great deal pleasanter under the water."
There was a field-road on this side of the pond which Podington well
knew, and proceeding along this they came to the bridge and got into
the main road.
"Now we must get home as fast as we can," cried Podington, "or we
shall both take cold. I wish I hadn't lost my whip. Hi now! Get
along!"
Podington was now full of life and energy, his wheels were on the hard
road, and he was himself again.
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