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'