“You’ve got to go lively,” he cried, “to get ahead of those caravaners. And now, you Pete,” he shouted to the negro driver, “you make them mules git!”
Pete whipped up, and away went our party along the sandy road that led out of Titusville. For a great part of the way the road lay through vast pine woods, where but few signs of life of any kind could be seen.
Before very long, they came in sight of the lonely house where the “caravaners” had stopped, and Pete whipped up his mules, hoping to pass the house before the party started; but this hope was vain; for, before they got to the gate, two carts, each drawn by one horse, came hurrying out, and immediately took the narrow road, on which there was but room enough for a single vehicle.
The two carts were piled high with people and baggage; but the horses were put to a gallop, and away they went, jogging and jolting over the rough road. Pete whipped up and galloped after them.
“If we’d started three minutes sooner,” said Adam, “we’d been ahead of ’em, and been aboard long afore they got there. Them horses can’t keep up that runnin’; but they can block the road for us, and that’s just as bad. A lot o’ people like that, just cruisin’ round for pleasure, ain’t got no right to swoop down without givin’ any notice, and swamp other folks that’s got no time to lose.”
“Never mind,” said Pete, who was keeping his mules close to the tail of the hindmost cart. “There’s a place up here where I can pass ’em, and then you’ll see me cut ahead.”
In a few minutes an open place in the woods was reached, where, for a short distance, there were two wagon tracks side by side, the road having been changed, the original track being in a soft place, and full of ruts and mud-holes.
The moment he reached this old road, Pete dashed into it, whipping his mules into their wildest gallop. The wagon bumped and jolted over the rough places, the valises nearly bouncing out, while the boys were obliged to hold fast to their seats.
The horses and the carts were put to the top of their speed, and having the best road, seemed likely to keep ahead of the wagon. But Pete was not to be defeated. He had waited patiently for this opportunity of passing, and he was bound to pass. The tough muscles of his mules seemed able to pull the wagon at full speed over any road, without a thought of tiring, while the horses and the heavily-laden carts were beginning to flag.
With a crack of his heavy whip and a yell of triumph, Pete plunged ahead, and dashed into the other road a dozen yards in advance of the foremost cart.