238 The Course, the Camp^ the Chase 



above charge in either barrel. Truly they were prodigious 

 weapons for a long tramp in a wild-goose chase, and few 

 men would care to fire such powerful charges, though 

 the above records prove how effectual they were. 



In other forms of sport Mr. Simpson has also greatly 

 distinguished himself, especially in long-distance skating 

 when at Cambridge. In 1837 he backed himself to 

 skate from Cambridge to Ely and back, a total distance of 

 80 miles, in four hours. This he accomplished with 

 great ease, and he then issued a challenge to skate the 

 same course against any amateur. The challenge was 

 taken up by a Mr. Potter of Pemberton College. Mr. 

 Simpson knew that his opponent was very fast for a short 

 distance, and probably had the speed of him, and after 

 they had covered about five miles, finding that his 

 opponent remained close behind him, evidently hoping 

 to win by speed at the finish, he determined to force 

 the pace and tire him out if he could possibly do so. 



Do what he would, however, he never could get away 

 from the other, who kept just behind him all the way. 

 When they had covered 37 miles of the return journey — 

 77 miles in all — a large crowd was waiting to come in 

 with them, but the two competitors were able to leave 

 all the others behind in the last three miles, although 

 the latter were perfectly fresh. 



Mr. Simpson managed to retain his lead to the end, 

 winning, with very little to spare, in the very fast time 

 of 2 hrs. 36 min., being just under 2 min. for each mile 

 the whole way. 



At the very end of the race victory was all but 

 snatched from his grasp. In making the winning stroke, 

 an accident to his skate very nearly robbed him of the 



