L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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had driven into the creature's neck.
Several of the girls, who stood outside guarding the palace, were
knocked over by the Saw-Horse's mad rush. Others ran screaming out of the
way, and only one or two jabbed their knitting-needles frantically at the
escaping prisoners. Tip got one small prick in his left arm, which smarted
for an hour afterward; but the needles had no effect upon the Scarecrow or
Jack Pumpkinhead, who never even suspected they were being prodded.
As for the Saw-Horse, he made a wonderful record upsetting a fruit
cart, overturning several meek looking men, and finally bowling over the
new Guardian of the Gate - a fussy little fat woman appointed by General
Jinjur.
Nor did the impetuous charger stop then. Once outside the walls of
the Emerald City he dashed along the road to the West with fast and
violent leaps that shook the breath out of the boy and filled the
Scarecrow with wonder.
Jack had ridden at this mad rate once before, so he devoted every
effort to holding, with both hands, his pumpkin head upon its stick,
enduring meantime the dreadful jolting with the courage of a philosopher.
"Slow him up! Slow him up!" shouted the Scarecrow. "My straw is all
shaking down into my legs."
But Tip had no breath to speak, so the Saw-Horse continued his wild
career unchecked and with unabated speed.
Presently they came to the banks of a wide river, and without a pause
the wooden steed gave one final leap and launched them all in mid-air.
A second later they were rolling, splashing and bobbing about in the
water, the horse struggling frantically to find a rest for its feet and
its riders being first plunged beneath the rapid current and then floating
upon the surface like corks.