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'And then I thought you would not mind presiding at dinnerI want
it to go off well。'
'Did you notice that？' said Graeme to me。 'Not a bad touch； eh？'
'That's nothing to the way he touched me。 Wait and learn；' I
answered； while Craig looked quite distressed。 'He'll do it； Mr。
Craig； never fear；' I said； 'and any other little duty that may
occur to you。'
'Now that's too bad of you。 That is all I want； honour bright；' he
replied； adding； as he turned away； 'you are just in time for a cup
of coffee； Mr。 Graeme。 Now I must see Mrs。 Mavor。'
'Who is Mrs。 Mavor？' I demanded of Graeme。
'Mrs。 Mavor？ The miners' guardian angel。'
We put up the horses and set off for coffee。 As we approached the
booth Graeme caught sight of the Punch and Judy show； stood still
in amazement； and exclaimed； 'Can the dead live？'
'Punch and Judy never die；' I replied solemnly。
'But the old manipulator is dead enough； poor old beggar！'
'But he left his mantle； as you see。'
He looked at me a moment
'What！ do you mean； you？'
'Yes； that is exactly what I do mean。'
'He is great man； that Craig fellowa truly great man。'
And then he leaned up against a tree and laughed till the tears
came。 'I say； old boy； don't mind me；' he gasped； 'but do you
remember the old 'Varsity show？'
'Yes； you villain； and I remember your part in it。 I wonder how
you can； even at this remote date； laugh at it。' For I had a vivid
recollection of how； after a 'chaste and highly artistic
performance of this mediaeval play' had been given before a
distinguished Toronto audience； the trap door by which I had
entered my box was fastened； and I was left to swelter in my cage；
and forced to listen to the suffocated laughter from the wings and
the stage whispers of 'Hello； Mr。 Punch； where's the baby？' And
for many a day after I was subjected to anxious inquiries as to the
locality and health of 'the baby；' and whether it was able to be
out。
'Oh； the dear old days！' he kept saying； over and over； in a tone
so full of sadness that my heart grew sore for him and I forgave
him； as many a time before。
The sports passed off in typical Western style。 In addition to the
usual running and leaping contests； there was rifle and pistol
shooting； in both of which old man Nelson stood first； with Shaw；
foreman of the mines； second。
The great event of the day； however； was to be the four…horse race；
for which three teams were enteredone from the mines driven by
Nixon； Craig's friend； a citizens' team； and Sandy's。 The race was
really between the miners' team； and that from the woods； for the
citizens' team； though made up of speedy horses； had not been
driven much together； and knew neither their driver nor each other。
In the miners' team were four bays； very powerful； a trifle heavy
perhaps； but well matched； perfectly trained； and perfectly handled
by their driver。 Sandy had his long rangy roans； and for leaders a
pair of half…broken pinto bronchos。 The pintos； caught the summer
before upon the Alberta prairies； were fleet as deer； but wicked
and uncertain。 They were Baptiste's special care and pride。 If
they would only run straight there was little doubt that they would
carry the roans and themselves to glory； but one could not tell the
moment they might bolt or kick things to pieces。
Being the only non…partisan in the crowd I was asked to referee。
The race was about half a mile and return； the first and last
quarters being upon the ice。 The course； after leaving the ice；
led up from the river by a long easy slope to the level above； and
at the further end curved somewhat sharply round the Old Fort。 The
only condition attaching to the race was that the teams should
start from the scratch； make the turn of the Fort； and finish at
the scratch。 There were no vexing regulations as to fouls。 The
man making the foul would find it necessary to reckon with the
crowd； which was considered sufficient guarantee for a fair and
square race。 Owing to the hazards of the course； the result would
depend upon the skill of the drivers quite as much as upon the
speed of the teams。 The points of hazard were at the turn round
the Old Fort； and at a little ravine which led down to the river；
over which the road passed by means of a long log bridge or
causeway。
From a point upon the high bank of the river the whole course lay
in open view。 It was a scene full of life and vividly picturesque。
There were miners in dark clothes and peak caps； citizens in
ordinary garb； ranchmen in wide cowboy hats and buckskin shirts and
leggings； some with cartridge…belts and pistols； a few half…breeds
and Indians in half…native； half…civilised dress； and scattering
through the crowd the lumbermen with gay scarlet and blue blanket
coats； and some with knitted tuques of the same colours。 A very
good…natured but extremely uncertain crowd it was。 At the head of
each horse stood a man； but at the pintos' heads Baptiste stood
alone； trying to hold down the off leader； thrown into a frenzy of
fear by the yelling of the crowd。
Gradually all became quiet； till； in the midst of absolute
stillness； came the words； 'Are you ready？'； then the pistol…shot
and the great race had begun。 Above the roar of the crowd came the
shrill cry of Baptiste； as he struck his broncho with the palm of
his hand； and swung himself into the sleigh beside Sandy； as it
shot past。
Like a flash the bronchos sprang to the front； two lengths before
the other teams； but； terrified by the yelling of the crowd；
instead of bending to the left bank up which the road wound； they
wheeled to the right and were almost across the river before Sandy
could swing them back into the course。
Baptiste's cries； a curious mixture of French and English；
continued to strike through all other sounds till they gained the
top of the slope to find the others almost a hundred yards in
front； the citizens' team leading； with the miners' following
close。 The moment the pintos caught sight of the teams before them
they set off at a terrific pace and steadily devoured the
intervening space。 Nearer and nearer the turn came； the eight
horses in front； running straight and well within their speed。
After them flew the pintos； running savagely with ears set back；
leading well the big roans； thundering along and gaining at every
bound。 And now the citizens' team had almost reached the Fort；
running hard； and drawing away from the bays。 But Nixon knew what
he was about； and was simply steadying his team for the turn。 The
event proved his wisdom； for in the turn the leading team left the
track； lost a moment or two in the deep snow； and before they could
regain the road the bays had swept superbly past； leaving their
rivals to follow in the rear。 On came the pintos； swiftly nearing
the Fort。 Surely at that pace they cannot make the turn。 But
Sandy knows his leaders。 They have their eyes upon the teams in
front； and need no touch of rein。 Without the slightest change in
speed the nimble…footed bronchos round the turn； hauling the big
roans after them； and fall in behind the citizens' team； which is
regaining steadily the ground lost in the turn。
And now the struggle is for the bridge over the ravine。 The bays
in front； running with mouths wide open； are evidently doing their
best； behind them； and every moment nearing them； but at the limit
of their speed too； come the lighter and fleeter citizens' team；
while opposite their driver are the pintos； pulling hard； eager and
fresh。 Their temper is too uncertain to send them to the front；
they run well following； but when leading cannot be trusted； and
besides； a broncho hates a bridge； so Sandy holds them where they
are； waiting and hoping for his chance after the bridge is crossed。
Foot by foot the citizens' team creep up upon the flank of the
bays； with the pintos in turn hugging them closely； till it seems
as if the three； if none slackens； must strike the bridge together；
and this will mean destruction to one at least。 This danger Sandy
perceives； but he dare not check his leaders。 Suddenly； within a
few yards of the bridge； Baptiste throws himself upon the lines；