"If he does," said Uncle Harry, "I'll surely decorate him with a blue ribbon!"
With many a laugh and jest, and much guessing as to which would be the winner, the merry party clambered into the barge; Dorothy mounted Romeo, and they were off over the road, on the way to the hotel.
The horses, like the average barge horses, were not beauties, but they saw the pony rush forward, and they made an effort at speed. They plunged forward, at what, to them, seemed a reckless pace, but the fine, handsome Romeo shot past them, his nostrils dilated, and his eyes bright with excitement. Dorothy's gay laugh rang out as she passed them, and Uncle Harry, as he looked after the flying figure, exclaimed:
"The little fairy! I believe no other child could ride so fearlessly as that!"
Often she looked back, as she sped over the road. Try as they would, the old horses could not overtake her.
As soon as the barge appeared in sight between the trees, she touched Romeo lightly with her whip-stock, and then she laughed gaily as he plunged forward, the old barge rattling along far behind.
She did not permit Romeo to again slacken his pace, and thus arrived at the Cleverton before the barge was in sight, so slow had been its progress.
"Oh, Nancy!" she cried, "Who do you think has come?"
Often she looked back, as she sped over the road.—[Page 31.]