Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-12-07

ED
their pounds. I've got my old ma
cnine in camp. It's veteran, but I
can push it, I CAMP
Pat stood up and smiled, for this
was his idea: Tine bicycle against the
horse.
"Here, bring it outl',. The lad was
stripped to his waist already-it didn't
take him long. He had little to shift.
He took his bicycle from willing
hands. With leap and scramble he
was into the saddle.
"Mount Margaret, you say?"
tfMount Margaret. And luck to
yer!"
The English boy knew we'll the i'm
portance of saving himself. He had
done his share of pacing for many a
record bout of 80 or 100 miles. He
was out of breath to start with, but
that was from pride and excitement.
It was like old times again. He would
race and win goldfor his partners and
himself. He had not done much for
the partnership as yet, but now he'd
show them that Englishmen. :.
But, steady. He must get his wind.
The path was smooth-worn smooth
by camels' feet-but dangerously mar
row and winding. But what did that
matter to "steerer" who could guide
"qusd" at 80 miles IN hour without
swerYing from a chalk-line? This
was not half so bad as taking triplet
round the Olympia course in London,
and that he could do right easily.
Steady! Steady! You're not at the
Crystal. Palace now, with half dozen
multicycles ready to take you on and
shield you from the wind. Steady!
But keep. on riding. No time to lose.
Phoo! the sunl Awful! He wished
he had kept his shirt on. Plug,plug!
And SO close on an hour passed. Now
com paratively fresh, now seemingly
done; slow now, then fast again, and
still there was nothing on the horizon
but sand and SKY.
Stay! There! Right straight ahead.
No, it was gone. Yes, there it was
again-a cloud of dust. A tiny cloud,
but full of hope for the boy, for,as he
went, it travelled still before.
Ha, ha! The dust grew near. Took
shape. 1t was the horse and on it, no
doubt, Geordie Maxwell, the man he
must pass. Was his horse beat? Why
was he going so slow? Ride, ride!
but still steady, steady, for there was
distance to be travelled still.
Just then the pad ran round the great
Salt lake that lies to the north of
Mount Margaret. The bicycle came
close and closer but the horseman
seemed at loss. At length they
came together, and then the cyclist
saw his advantage. The edge of the
lake, for some way round, was crusted
with lit, coating thicker than ice.
but not so strong. Gould one get over
this, miles might be saved and the race
won. Maxwellhad tried and failed.
His horse was too heavy for the salt
and sunk in, almost helpless.
The English boy took stock. The
brumby did not sink oyer ss,sst
.oT56 carry the bicycle and Us
horse Vs. Co While Maxwell walloWeat,h - :
rider. :, ! 9u on,,ld TO frmer ground me
cyelist sailed ahead, taking 2 q sl1 Gu, seemed s
: corner of the lake. inen ., o. Ia esnied
aofe- until, looking, the l,,ore iaa e.pe we're
saae; etbsr cloud of dust. Yes, there Wv,s ,vo.
two. Inc ouI hest he could, and TIL
other came along the sad trach Ai
osntl esast, They met and stopped, ped, ba
~es'' change of horses. MaIwel, ,a;n an
+, onned With one Of those oelun % sxl
+ to .hs Ala No matter the sun; No ma ma
IT ter the dust anu y. sWeaS ,,,indinr MI yo
h ssl snnnd 7our eyes, half DiinGhas Tha fye ye
ut Ride Ride. Englishman, ride! tHv Moxw wv
p horse sn;ns arsm it. it beyond its strength, a
e. the knowledge that ne WI Ma' than e.
i'm sae sesmed to make him more 'han h;msel j
'd' frantic. he could not saw save Hem Te M
to. iisnsl la oonid not save the horse. ne ne -
ith ne cop.a o1o;m-no matter who
~ ~ to suffer. :, ,u,o conpht up
vn? +nrned aside among the foess' :.
me tSe t%en ana another short struggle anu ap;s s'
theh anS anS IN the track again, TINS
,ck. past anu pt ou stil, the cyclist kept
that ,'t at his heels, looking now TO 'ne wetc =,
flee - now to the left, anziousiS "
lop; for a chance to pass. .,o chance
own 'o Ma Maxwell know the chanoo :.
had ooDss n. Did he feel his ;91 horse e, g
,ree- come. zoe .se that the cycliist hat
when %ay anu anwn o to ride "for ever,
with him himself would soy? Perhaps zap, 20, a.
for, galloping ahead fof s.an, a new tbs = 81 $,
mn nniIed up and, ,leaping from n, 'ne me .
Then purlea p,,ed q ~ great rock right in the },
T0lleo 70, arol;st a : saw it just in time, b. =,
voter, Ine s;synount. sy To verge from I'll
whns row path meant 5oohS ,sSssIs. s
iange. horse still kept ahead. ,,,ad
Pat M D;smount once more,
1t eyes pn'a pn again. And so again anu ! u,
. III How ~s long could this 60 ,eas on, ane
erious, YOU would tire first? But, stay, ~, y.
acco he Se1 So been hot, and the Dran III
nHe nHer fresh at the start, was ~, ~,
on his U Vas the Englishman. "A 10 =,
Then, S~Y Sorambles on and off, a Jew !. u
getting nos of the machine over oDss >,
laced in his way, and lie "
aid Pat, pt", pnne
l. there! % %Maxwell slackened pace as
!" was going to dismoulnt' IN onoe q
a. was was going to block the way g . ,
ng there foiled tackle the cyclis5 as :,
There's IS nv. The lad was aespe' ,slt
ng there oo ooo,,ld stand fair race ons v
1t we've go W q feht he meant haSi4e
blow. SO he whipped gu. oIn +,
scarcely and squirting till ne was ,,at I,t