Dandy took alarm, misunderstanding the nature of the fluttering white things, and started to gallop.

With two haversacks on my back it was difficult to hold on to the bag of hymn books and at the same time to prevent their loss.

The more the hymn books fluttered out, the harder Dandy bolted, and the harder Dandy bolted, the more the hymn books fluttered out.

At last I passed a soldier in the road and asked him to come to my assistance.

I managed to rein in the horse, and the man collected as many of the hymn books as were not spoilt by the mud.