"Burroughs, Edgar Rice - The Mad King" - читать интересную книгу автора (Burroughs Edgar Rice)

speed."

The front wheel of the roadster was at the horse's right
flank. Barney stepped upon the accelerator a little harder.
There was barely room between the horse and the edge of
the road for the four wheels of the roadster, and Barney
must be very careful not to touch the horse. The thought of
that and what it would mean to the girl sent a cold shudder
through Barney Custer's athletic frame.

The man cast a glance to his right. His machine drove
from the left side, and he could not see the road at all over
the right hand door. The sight of tree tops waving beneath
him was all that was visible. Just ahead the road's edge
rushed swiftly beneath the right-hand fender, the wheels
on that side must have been on the very verge of the em-
bankment.

Now he was abreast the girl. Just ahead he could see
where the road disappeared around a corner of the bluff at
the dangerous curve the girl had warned him against.

Custer leaned far out over the side of his car. The lung-
ing of the horse in his stride, and the swaying of the leaping
car carried him first close to the girl and then away again.
With his right hand he held the car between the frantic
horse and the edge of the embankment. His left hand, out-
stretched, was almost at the girl's waist. The turn was just
before them.

"Jump!" cried Barney.

The girl fell backward from her mount, turning to grasp
Custer's arm as it closed about her. At the same instant
Barney closed the throttle, and threw all the weight of his
body upon the foot brake.

The gray roadster swerved toward the embankment as the
hind wheels skidded on the loose surface gravel. They were
at the turn. The horse was just abreast the bumper. There
was one chance in a thousand of making the turn were
the running beast out of the way. There was still a chance if
he turned ahead of them. If he did not turn--Barney hated
to think of what must follow.

But it was all over in a second. The horse bolted straight
ahead. Barney swerved the roadster to the turn. It caught
the animal full in the side. There was a sickening lurch as
the hind wheels slid over the embankment, and then the
man shoved the girl from the running board to the road, and