WONDERS OF A NEW LAND 213 



We were now jogging along at an easy gait, 

 when both guides put the spurs to their horses, 

 and not even saying, "Good-bye, we'll see you 

 later," away they went. 



Billie threw back his ears, and without any 

 waiting or hesitation he started after them. 

 Very quickly he settled down to a steady but 

 swift gait. He did not seem to exert himself, 

 nor did he become excited. Gradually he 

 increased his speed, until I stood up in the 

 stirrups and held him with a strong grip with 

 my left hand. With the right hand I occa- 

 sionally gave him a crack with a piece of wil- 

 low brush used in place of a whip. We had 

 thus gone perhaps a half mile, when Billie 

 came up with the runners. Both horses were 

 showing nervousness and both were sweating. 

 The appearance of the mule alongside spurred 

 them to greater exertions than ever, and a new 

 spurt was indulged in with Mac in the lead, 

 Charley next, and Billie sailing along in the 

 rear. It struck me there and then that Bil- 

 lie was simply playing with them, — that he 

 knew he could outrun them whenever he 

 wanted to; but that if he beat them too easily, 

 the race w^ould be over and all of the enjoy- 

 ment with it. Indeed, he seemed to enjoy it 

 better than either of the two men, who were 



