Boo} Beats 



shouting, endeavoring to check our speed, for the 

 cart rolled threateningly. At last he succeeded. 



Simultaneously — we heard it like the crack of 

 a rifle at midnight — the splintering of the stiff 

 plank fence as Trotter's black mare struck it with 

 her knees, and then the ensuing thud of her 

 quarters on the ground as she spun over in the air. 



I leaped out of the cart, climbed the fence 

 which paralleled the road, and falling and stumb- 

 ling groped my way across the rough plow. Be- 

 hind me I could hear the others following, calling 

 to me and keeping close to the edge of the field. 



The moon shot out, shining brightly. Almost 

 at my feet lay Trotter. The spot where Alice 

 had fallen. 



The mare was gone. He was stretched on his 

 back, arms and legs outspread. He recognized 

 me and smiled. I knelt down. 



"Not badly hurt, old chap?" I whispered. 

 His lips moved. I bent nearer. 



"Good-by,"hesaid. 



"No, no, Jim, you're not badly hurt," I choked. 

 "It's not the first time you've been nearly rolled 

 out, you know. " 



He managed to move his head a little and 

 smiled — a beautiful smile. 



"You don't understand." I could barely hear 

 him. "I'm through with this — Alice and I — " 

 166 



