FROM THE KINGSTON SPRINGS TO SAN BERNARDINO. 175 



to make use of it and have a little sport to vary the cheerless- 

 ness of our journey. Biped nags renowned for fleetness of 

 foot were selected from our ranks, and surrounded by their 

 hackers they proceeded to the place allotted for the display of 

 their locomotive powers. Clad in as few habiliments as pos- 

 sible, and with feet encased in light moccasons, the gallant 

 Olympians would leave the starting point, and with flying 

 heels and streaming locks they would speed over the level 

 course toward the speedily nearing goal, amid the cheers and 

 yells of an admiring and appreciative audience. Bets of 

 money and of wine — the latter to be forthcoming on our 

 arrival at San Bernardino — w^ere freely offered and taken on 

 the result of the races, and the competitors were watched with 

 the liveliest interest by their friends until they came up to 

 the score. The whole scene was rife with mirth and excite- 

 ment, and during the evening's performance the desert soli- 

 tudes were made to ring with such sounds as had never before 

 disturbed their silent airs. 



Much of our gaiety was forced, however, and we soon settled 

 down to the normal condition of the past few days. Instead 

 of a night drive, which the condition of our horses precluded, 

 we encamped on the shores of the deceitful lake. In the moon- 

 light of the early evening we could see the yuccas, erect or 

 fallen, in the semblance of alert or sleeping ghosts, giving the 

 landscape an uncanny look. 



The next morning we saw an object slowly crawling towards 

 us across the shining bed of the lake. What should it be but 

 Bently's dog, like Marryatt's " Snarl eyow," come back to "visit 

 the glimpses of the moon." The twain of would-be murderers 

 announced themselves by their looks when their victim made 

 his appearance. Bently's emotions were a mixture of anger 

 and pleasure, while the poor dog wagged his tail to the forget- 

 fulness of his wounds. A reversion of feeling followed, and it 

 was concluded to tolerate the superfluous member of our mess 

 a little longer. 



