448 LIFE WITH THE TEOTTEES. 



no sooner thought of it than Guy knew it and was off. 

 Great Csesar how he went ! And how the sand and dirt did 

 fly; Charlie crying "Let him go, pa!" and I suddenly 

 finding out there were three jobs on hand needing immedi- 

 ate attention. First, to keep my eyes open ; second, to 

 keep the boy still and in the cart ; and third, to stop the 

 horse. 



My mind was occupied also with the fact the cart might 

 break, and also in figuring whether I could stoj) Guy be- 

 fore we got to the railroad. To say I was getting nervous 

 puts it mildly — I was really becoming frightened. With a 

 good grip on the boy with my knees, a hold on Guy with 

 all my might, and with eyes almost closed with the mud, 

 matters were getting desperate. Guy was now fairly run- 

 ning away, was beyond control, but true to his breeding 

 still on the trot. As we were nearing the railroad at 

 every step the tension was getting stronger ; something 

 must be done. He had the bit — in fact he had me. It 

 was Guy "cutting uj) that hog," not me. I yelled 

 " AVhoa!" I tried to saw him to a stop. I pulled so hard the 

 cart springs settled down until Guy looked like a seven- 

 teen-hand horse. But it was of no 'use; he was "out" in 

 earnest. 



As we emerged from the shade of the trees the mud was 

 thin, and it was fiying over the cart like sliavings from a 

 planer. There was only one more chance ; would he stop 

 from force of habit or would he go on over the track ? If he 

 goes over we are gone. We are almost there. I must try 

 something. I begin carefully to let up on him ; he hesitates 

 a trifle, slows down gradually, comes to a walk, stretches 

 out his neck asking to let go the bit, and we turn around to 

 go back. We were much in the condition of the boy whom 

 the mule had kicked — we were not as handsome as before, 

 but knew a good deal more. You may safely guess I did 

 not encourage Guy to speed any more that morning. We 

 walked back and took a rest for the balance of the day. 

 And that was Charlie' s last ride behind Guy. He often 



