At a given signal, away went the racers in fine style. Fritz and Jack,
putting forth all their powers, took the lead at once, running in
advance of Ernest, who started at a good steady pace, which I predicted
he would be better able to maintain than such a furious rate as his
brothers.
But long before we expected to see them back, a tremendous noise of
galloping caused us to look with surprise towards the bridge, and Jack
made his appearance, thundering along on his buffalo, with the onager
and the donkey tearing after him riderless, and the whole party in the
wildest spirits.
`Hollo!' cried I. `What sort of foot-race do you call this, Master
Jack?'
He shouted merrily as he dashed up to us; then flinging himself off,
and saluting us in a playful way:
`I very soon saw,' said he, `that I hadn't a chance; so renouncing all
idea of the prize, I caught Storm, and made him gallop home with me, to
be in time to see the others come puffing in. Lightfoot and old Grizzle
chose to join me--I never invited them!'
By and by the other boys arrived, Ernest holding up the knife in token
of being the winner; and after hearing all particulars about the
running, and that he had reached Falconhurst two minutes before Fritz,
we proceeded to test the climbing powers of the youthful athletes.
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