The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-05-24


hazards OF the course. the result would
depend upon the skill OF the drivers
quite as much ms upon the speed OF
the teams The points or hazard were
at the turn round the old fort and at a
little ravine which led down TO the
means OF long log bridge or cause
way.
From point upon the high bank OF
the river the whole course lay In open
view. II was scene full OF life and
wildly picturesque. There were min
ers Ia dark clothes and peak caps. citi-
zens In ordinary garb. ranchmen in
wide cowboy hats and buekslin shirts
and leggings. some with cartridge belts
and pistols; few half breeds and In.
dams I'M 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 un-
certain crowd It was. Al the head OF
egC. aofse S.cod q man. bun at ~"
pintOs heads Bapiiste stood alone. try
Ing TO hold down the of leader. thrown
into a frenzy OF fear by the yelling OF
the crowd
Gradually all became quiet till. In the
Qidsi OF absolute stiffness. came the
words Are you readyT' then the pts
tol shot. aud the great race began
Above the roar Of the crowd came the
shiill cry of Baptiste as he struck hie
bronchc with the palm Of bis hand and
swung himself into the sleigh beside
Sandy as IL shot past.
Like q fah- the bronchos sprang TO
the front two lengths before the other
teams; but, terrified by the yelling
crowd. instead of bending 10 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.
Baptiste'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 n 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 sayagely. with ears set back. lead
q. IA inf oil
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 al
that pace they cannot make the turn
But Sandy knows his leaders. They
have their eyes upon the teams in front
the slightest change in speed the MIN
BILE footed bronchos round the turn
hauling the big roans after them, ant
fall In behind the citizens team, which
is regaining steadily the ground lost II
the turn.
And now the struggle Is for thu
bridge over the ravine The bays II
/ to mid
are evidently doing their best. BehinC
them and every moment nearing them
but al the limit of their speed, too
come the lighter and heeter citizens
team, while opposite their driver ar
the plntos. pulling hard. eager an'
fresh Their temper Is too uncertain
to send them TO the front They rui
well following. but when leading can
not be trusted, and besides. bronch
hates bridge. so Sandy holds then
where they are. waiting and hoping 70
his chance after the bridge is crossed
Foot by foot the citizens team cree
up upon the flank Of the bays. with h
pintos in turn hugging them closely. I'll
IL seems as If the three. If none slack
ems. must strike the bridge together
and this will mean destruction TO on
at least This danger Sandy perceive'
but he dare not check his leaders. Sue
denly within a few yards Of the bridg
Baptiste throws himself upon the lines
I, wrenches them out Of Sandy's hand
and with n quick swing, faces the plI
tos down the steep side of the ravin'
, which is almost sheer ice with thi
coat Of snow. IL Is daring course I
take, for the ravine, though not deel
Is full OF underground and is PARTIAL
2 closed up by brush heap at the IA
I Their end But. with a yen, Baptist
hurls his four horses down the slof
I. and into The underground. "Allon
y mes enfants! Couragel Vite! Vite'
!, cries their driver. and nobIy do The pil