Baptiste‘s cries，a curious mixture of French and English，continued to strike through all other sounds，till they gained the top of the slope to find the others almost a hundred yards in front，the citizens’team leading，with the miners‘following close.The moment the pintos caught sight of the teams before them，they set off at a terrific pace and steadily devoured the intervening space.Nearer and nearer the turn came，the eight horses in front，running straight and well within their speed.After them flew the pintos，running savagely with ears set back，leading well the big roans，thundering along and gaining at every bound.And now the citizens’team had almost reached the Fort，running hard and drawing away from the bays.But Nixon knew what he was about，and was simply steadying his team for the turn.The event proved his wisdom，for in the turn the leading team left the track，lost a moment or two in the deep snow，and before they could regain the road，the bays had swept superbly past，leaving their rivals to follow in the rear.On came the pintos，swiftly nearing the Fort.Surely at that pace they cannot make the turn.But Sandy knows his leaders.They have their eyes upon the teams in front，and need no touch of rein.Without the slightest change in speed the nimblefooted bronchosround the turn，hauling the big roans after them，and fallin behind the citizens‘team，which is regaining steadily the ground lost in the turn.
And now the struggle is for the bridge over the ravine.The bays in front，running with mouths wide open，are evidently doing their best；behind them，and every moment nearing them，but at the limit of their speed too，come the lighter and fleeter citizens’team；while opposite their driver are the pintos，pulling hard，eager and fresh.Their temper is too uncertain to send them to the front；they run well following，but when leading cannot be trusted，and besides，a broncho hates a bridge；so Sandy holds them where they are，waiting and hoping for his chance after the bridge is crossed.Foot by foot the citizens‘team creep up upon the flank of the bays，with the pintos in turn hugging them closely，till it seems as if the three，if none slackens，must strike the bridge together；and this will mean destruction to one at least.This danger Sandy perceives，but he dare not check his leaders.Suddenly，within a few yards of the bridge，Baptiste throws himself upon the lines，wrenches them out of Sandy’s hands，and，with a quick swing，forces the pintos down the steep side of the ravine，which is almost sheer ice with a thin coat of snow.It is a daring course to take，for the ravine，though not deep，is full of undergrowth，and is partially closed up by a brush heap at the further end.But with a yell，Baptiste hurls his four horses down the slope，and into the undergrowth.“Allons，mes enfants！Courage！vite，vite！”cries their driver，and nobly do the pintos respond.Regardless of bushes and brush heaps，they tear their way through；but as theyemerge，the hind bobsleigh catches a root，and，with a crash，the sleigh is hurled high into the air.Baptiste‘s cries ring out high and shrill as ever，encouraging his team，and never cease till，with a plunge and a scramble，they clear the brush heap lying at the mouth of the ravine，and are out on the ice on the river，with Baptiste standing on the front bob，the box trailing behind，and Sandy nowhere to be seen.
Three hundred yards of the course remain.The bays，perfectly handled，have gained at the bridge，and in the descent to the ice，and are leading the citizens’team by half a dozen sleigh lengths.Behind both comes Baptiste.It is now or never for the pintos.The rattle of the trailing box，together with the wild yelling of the crowd rushing down the bank，excites the bronchos to madness，and，taking the bits in their teeth，they do their first free running that day.Past the citizens‘team like a whirlwind they dash，clear the intervening space，and gain the flanks of the bays.Can the bays hold them？Over them leans their driver，plying for the first time the hissing lash.Only fifty yards more.The miners begin to yell.But Baptiste，waving his lines high in one hand，seizes his tuque with the other，whirls it above his head and flings it with a fiercer yell than ever at the bronchos.Like the bursting of a hurricane the pintos leap forward，and with a splendid rush cross the scratch，winners by their own length.