At last we reached a steep hill, or
divide, the further side of which sloped down to the creek. There was
no brake on the wagon, and the four horses were not in the least
inclined to hold back, appearing to be wholly unconcerned as to what
might happen.
It was impossible to restrain them. My work was cut out for me in
keeping them on the track. So I let them set their own pace down the
hill. The wagon bounded and rebounded from the bumps in the road, and
my two distinguished passengers had to keep very busy holding their
seats.
However, when they saw that the horses were being kept in the road they
assumed an appearance of enjoying themselves. I was unable to slacken
the pace of the horses until they dashed into the camp where we were to
obtain a relay. There I succeeded in checking them.
[Illustration: STAGE-COACH DRIVING WAS FULL OF HAIR-RAISING
ADVENTURES]
The Grand Duke and the general said they had got a lot of enjoyment out
of the ride, but I noticed that thereafter they were perfectly willing
to travel at an easier pace.
When we arrived at North Platte, the Grand Duke invited me into his
car, and there, over a few bottles of champagne, we went over all the
details of the hunt. He said the trip was one which he would never
forget and professed himself as wholly unable to thank me for my part
in it.
As I was leaving the car one of his suite approached me, and, extending
a big roll of greenbacks, begged me to accept it as a slight token of
the Grand Duke's appreciation of my services.
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