A STRANGE LAND. 231 



One moonlight night we went to the track and gave her 

 an easy trial, timing myself with my watch and he timing 

 with his in I 44^. I could have driven her faster, but 

 that was fast enough. Barring the engineer, who ran the 

 grand stand and who was tipped with a handful of gold 

 coin for secrecy, I suppose, by my patron, no one but our- 

 selves knew of this trial. It was, I was led to understand, 

 something below their 'fastest on record.' The day of the 

 race came, but in the interval my friend had backed the 

 mare right and left. People came from adjoining cities 

 to get a whack at him, and it was painfully evident that 

 many of his friends believed him to be insane. The ex- 

 citement was intense. It leaked out through the harness 

 and wagon-makers, probably, although they were sworn 

 to secrecy, that the mare was to be differently rigged than 

 any horse was ever before and that I was to drive her. 

 Of course I was the center of attraction, on account of my 

 strange advent in their country and my mysterious ways. 

 They were respectful and kind to me, though, and I don't 

 imagine for a moment that any of them thought I was 

 an imp from the infernal regions, as they would, under 

 similar circumstances, in America. The newspapers her- 

 alded the event. The country was wild with excitement. 

 I was followed by large crowds whenever I appeared on 

 the streets, but never molested, nor an unkind demonstra- 

 tion of any nature offered. Things were at fever heat, 

 and the suspense had become awful, still my friend 

 gamely putting up his I. O. U's. I tried to caution him, 

 but he was dead game ; the issue had become a matter of 

 pride and honor, and he wouldn't back down. He became 

 somewhat nervous and haggard from the fearful strain, 

 but to me was always the same kind, courteous gentle- 

 man, seeming to have a great affection for me. He was a 



