The accident disclosed not only the fact that she was riding in a man's saddle, but also a foot and ankle that her ordinary walking-dress was too short to hide.

It was evident that her equestrian exercise was extempore, and that at that hour and on that road she had not expected to meet company.

But she was apparently a good horsewoman, for the mischance which might have thrown a less practical or more timid rider seemed of little moment to her.
With a strong hand and determined gesture she wheeled her frightened horse back into the track, and rode him directly at the object.

But here she herself slightly recoiled, for it was the body of a man lying in the road.
As she leaned forward over her horse's shoulder, she could see by the dim light that he was a miner, and that, though motionless, he was breathing stertorously.

Drunk, no doubt!--an accident of the locality alarming only to her horse.