thers in the crowd, doe-colored, worn with the
high crown full-standing, a leather thong at the back of the head, the
brim drooping a bit from the weather, so broad that his face looked
narrower and sharper in its shadow.

Nothing like the full-blooded young aggie who had come into the Bad
Lands to found his fortune a little less than a year before, and about
as different from him in thought and outlook upon life as in physical
appearance. The psychology of environment is a powerful force.

A score or more of horsemen were strung out along the course, where they
had stationed themselves to watch the race at its successive stages, and
cheer their champion on his way. At the starting-point the Duke waited
alone; at the station a crowd of cowboys lolled in their saddles, not
caring to make a run to see the finish.

It was customary for the horsemen who raced the flier to wait on the
ground until the engine rounded the curve, then mount and settle to the
race. It was counted fair, also, owing to the headway the train already
had, to start a hundred yards or so before the engine came abreast, in
order to limber up to the horses' best speed.

For two miles or more the track ran straight after that curve, Misery
about the middle of the stretch. In that long, straight reach the
builders of the road had begun the easement of the stiff grade through
the hills beyond. It was the beginning of a hard climb, a stretch in
which west-bound trains gathered headway to carry them over the top.
Engines came panting round that curve, laboring with the strain of
their load, speed reduced half, and dropping a bit lower as they
proceeded up the grade.

This Sunday, as usual, train crew and passengers were on the lookout for
the game sportsmen of Misery. Already the engineer was leaning out of
his window, arm extended, ready to give the derisive challenge to come
on as he swept by.

The Duke was in the saddle, holding in Whetstone with stiff rein, for
the animal was trembling with eagerness to spring away, knowing very
well from the preparations which had been going forward that some big
event in the lives of his master and himself was pending. The Duke held
him, looking back over his shoulder, measuring the distance as the train
came sweeping grandly round the curve. He waited until the engine was
within a hundred feet of him before he loosed rein and let old Whetstone
go.

A yell ran up the line of spectators as the pale yellow horse