36 



had given up trying to fathom Sil- 

 verton's woodcraft, perhaps he saw 

 tracks or the breeze brought tidings. 



Yes, there was something pe- 

 culiar on the wind, very peculiar 

 and very unpleasant. Was it burn- 

 ing rubber? No, much worse. It 

 was growing stronger and stronger, 

 and the dust ! Every one of the mil- 

 lion particles bore its unspeak- 

 ably malodorous freight. Oh! for 

 the power that cleaned the Augean 

 stables! The Ordinary Man whipped 

 up his horses. I was seated at the 

 time on a big roll of bedding at the 

 back of the wagon, leading my 

 horse by the bridle. The four horses 

 shot forward and I had the choice of 

 loosening the hold on my horse or 

 myself. A lost horse seemed prefer- 

 able to a lost equilibrium and that 

 overpowering dust and smell made 

 me indifferent. 



Nimrod caught the horse but I 

 declined to be burdened with it. 

 I longed for a fragrant terrace far 

 away where clematis, and oleanders 

 and day-lilies scented the clear air. 



"Pretty nearly out," he encour- 

 aged. 



