Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-08

| LuuhC tht tuhh VI tle lOIL anu uIllSu dU
the scratch. There were no vexing
regulations as to fouls. The man maxi
ing the foul would find 1t necessary
to reckon with the crowd, which was
considered sufficient guarantee for
fair and square race. Owing to the
hazards Of the course, the result would
depend upon the skill OF the drivers
quite as much as upon the speed Of
the teams. The points of hazard were
at the turn round the old fort and at q
little ravine which led down to the
river, over which the road passed by
means OF long log bridge or cause
way.
From a point upon the high bank Of
the river the whole course lay in open
view. 1t was a scene full of life and
wildly picturesque. There were min.
ers i'll dark clothes and peak caps, citi-
zens In ordinary garb, ranchmen in
wide cowboy hats and buckskin shirts
and leggings. some with cartridge belts
and pistols; few half breeds and In.
dams in half native, half civilized
dress and, scattering through the
crowd, the lumbermen with gay scarlet
and blue blanket coats and some with
knitted toques of the same colorS. A
very good natured but extremely I'M
certain crowd it was. At the head OF
each horse stood man, but at the
pintos' heads Baptiste stood alone. try
ing to hold down the off leader, thrown
into a frenzy Of fear by the yelling Of
the crowd.
Gradually all became quiet till, in the
midst of absolute stiffness, came the
words, Are you readyY then the pis-
tol shot, and the great race began.
Above the roar of the crowd came the
shrill cry of Baptiste as he struck his
broncho with the palm Of his hand and
swung himself into the sleigh beside
Sandy as it shot past.
Like fash the bronchos sprang to
the front tao lengths before the other
teams; but, terrified by the yelling
crowd, instead of bending to the left
bank, UP which the road wound. they
wheeled to the right and were almost
across the river before Sandy could
swing them back into the course.
Baptste's cries, a curious mixture Of
! French and English, continued to
strike through all other sounds till they
gained the top Of the slope. to find the
others almost hundred yards in front,
the citizens team leading, with the
miners following close. The moment
the pintos caught sight of the teams
before them they set off at terrific
pace and steadily devoured the inter-
vening space. Nearer and nearer the
!, turn came the eight horses in front
running straight and well within their
speed. After them flew the pintos, run
ming saVagely, with ears set back lead
ing we'll the big roans laundering along
, and gaining at every bound. And now
the citizens team had almost reached
the fort, running hard and drawing
away from the bays. But Nixon knew
what he was about and was simply
steadying his team for the turn.
The event proved his wisdom, for in
, the turn the leading team left the
track, lost moment or two in the
, deep snow, and before they could re-
gain the road the bays had swept SUI
perbly past, leaving their rivals to fol-
low in the rear. On came the pintos,
swiftly nearing the fort. Surely at
, that pace they cannot make the turn.
But Sandy knows his leaders. They
have their eyes upon the teams in front
, and need no touch of rein. Without
| the slightest change in speed the MIN
BILE footed bronchos round the turn,
hauling the big roans after them, and
fall in behind the citizens team, which
is regaining steadily the ground lost in
the turn.
k,,1 ctr, &c No
bridge over the ravine. The bays in
front, running with mouths wide open,
are evidently doing their best. Behind
them and every moment nearing them,
but at the limit of their speed, too,
come the lighter and fleeter citizens
team, while opposite their driver are
the pintos. pulling hard, eager and
fresh. Their temper Is too uncertain
O to send them to the front. They run
! we'll following, but when leading can
not be trusted, and. besides, a bronchO
r hates bridge, so Sandy holds them
y where they are waiting and hoping for
his chance after the bridge is crossed.
Foot by foot the citizens team creep
:. up upon the flank of the bays, with the
A pintos in turn huggng them closely till
\ it seems as If the three If none slack
h ems, must strike the bridge together.
4 and this will mean destruction to one
A at least. This danger Sandy perceives,
! but he dare not check his leaders Sud-
:. denly within few yards Of the bridge
q Baptiste throws himself upon the lines.
T wrenches them out of Sandy's hands
9 and, with a quick swing, faces the PIN
- tos down the steep side of the ravine,
which is almost sheer ice with a thin
;. coat of snow. 1t is a daring course to
f take, for the ravine, though not deep,
r is full OF underground and is partially
a closed up by a brush heap at the far
Their end. But, with a YELL Baptiste
. hurs his four horses down the slope
;, and into the underground. "Allons.
y. mes enfants! Courage! Vite! Vite!'
h cries their driver, and nobly do the PIN
h tos respond.
Regardless of bushes and brush
, heaps. they tear their way through.
r. but as they emerge the high bob sleigh
n catches a root, and. with crash, the
, sleigh is hurled in the air. Baptiste's
4 cries ring out high and shril as ever.