The National tribune., 1881-08-20


Sleepers and were ready to start back.
AS several conjectured, their return Gen
eral Grant proposed grand race. Lying between
them and the depot was a smooth plain three
miles in extent. On the further side leaning
column could be seen, which was at once selected
as the reaching-post. A Turkish officer was cho-
sell umpire and sent on in advance. General
Grant had noticed Fred's pony many times dur
ing the day, and was greatly pleased with his ex-
quisite beauty. He thought it possible that the
pony might be the sharpest competitor his own
elegant, hgh-spirited gray would have in the race
and he beckoned Fred to take a position at his
side The starting point was to be an immense
sarcophagus in which noble Greek had once
been buried, but which now, for some cause, lay
upturned on the edge of the plain. At this place
ten superbly mounted horsemen drew up in
line, with General Grant and Fred on the right.
The English consul gave the signal for starting
Fred shook the reigns upon the pony's neck,
and he bounded forward as gracefully deer
The pony instinctively prepared himself for the
race Both horses were of princely pedigree and
showed their blood in the sylph-Gke ease with
which they moved. Fred knew that in horseman-
ship the odds must be greatly in favor of General
Grant How Fred admired him as he sat upon
the gray, every inch the general; and he felt
almost alarmed at the thought of contesting the
race with such a splendid horseman! But he
quickly made up his mind to compete for the
honors as sharply as he could. His light weight
he knew to be in his favor, and he had all conf
dence in the pony's speed and courage; even then
he could feel him tremble under his growing
excitement
They all had made an even start, and for many
rods had kept together; but now Fred and the
General began to push ahead. The pony's silken
tail brushed the shoulder of the foremost horse,
while his handsome name tossed against the
bridle-rein of his antagonist
1t was fine sight to see these two beautiful
horses settle down for the remaining two-mile
run. The movement of each was perfect. There
was no cOnvulsive effort, no waste of energy.
They glided onward as smoothly as the flight of
birds. Nose to nose, neck to neck, shoulder to
shoulder they flew. Neither the General nor
Fred seemed to gain an inch and neither seemed
to care whether the other won or not. Patches of
meadow grass brilliant with wild flowers, pieces
of rich sculpture, a thousand rare objects that
once shone in beautiful houses or more beautiful
temples lay scattered along their course; but
they were unnotced in the glorious speed.
But halfmile remains, and each horse is
making his best time The sun lights up horses
and riders so that they seemed like phantoms
sweeping over the plain. Now with bound they
cross wide ditch, the Generals horse distancing
the pony by several feet The pony clings to
him like shadow. One touch of the spur upon
his hot flank, and he recovers his lost ground
Never there so close race before. Now it is
whip and spur, words of command and words of
and the horses seem scarcely to
touch the ground. Now the General leads, now
Fred. The goal is reached.
The umpire did not decide
Fred told the Greek boy that night that he won
it. If you are anxious to know who did win it,
ask the General J