The Race oj the Old King 223 



The horses went off at a dead lock, under the whip for about four 

 hundred yards; the other rider, from the start, pressed King out of 

 his firm track into deep ground on the inside, so that in passing 

 the gate Peyton's knee barely missed the post. Peyton submitted 

 to this foul riding, as he said, because he soon discovered that the 

 horses were so nearly equal in speed that the superior size, strength 

 and game of the Old King placed the result beyond a contingency. 



As they commenced the ascent around the turn, the little quarter 

 horse began to weaken, while the Old King, like the iron horse, kept 

 up his lick and was about to pass, when the rider of the other horse, 

 as a forlorn hope, caught the left rein of his bridle near the bit and 

 attempted to force the old horse into the woods, amongst grape- 

 vines and paw-paws. Peyton, who was wide awake, perceiving this 

 in time, braced his horse for the shock and gave the rider a sharp 

 cut across the face, saying, "I would have done that before, as you 

 have ridden foul all the way, but I was sure I had you." 



Peyton justified the blow and charged the other party with foul 

 riding, as was evidently the case from the tracks of the horses, which 

 was so decided by the judges, of whom Colonel Stepp, of Kentucky, 

 was one.] 



As the Old King came to the Judges' stand a victor there was the 

 thunder of battle in his stride and the noise of the tempest in his 

 wing. 



While hundreds of voices proclaimed that the Old King was 

 the winner of the purse, there was a rumbling discontent proclaiming 

 foul riding. 



In these times it was of the first importance to have good and 

 willing fighters as chiefs of staff in case of emergency. Guild and 

 Peyton had defended them in courts, and were attended with a 

 reliable reserve. Guild saw the difficulty and fight progressing be- 

 tween the riders and, like Roderick Dhu, blew his whistle and his 

 clansmen Johnny Outlaw, Bird Fallice, and others of tried grit, 

 were by his side. They ran 600 yards to the head of the stretch; 

 there they found Peyton had dismounted and was heavily pressed, 

 putting his assailants at bay with his drawn knife. Guild announced 

 to Peyton "Here we come," and perfect order and peace were re- 

 established. 



The judges decided that the Old King had fairly won the purse, 

 and it was so awarded. He was led back to his stable with the 

 triumph equal in noise and feeling to that given a Roman General 

 upon his return from a glorious campaign. 



