THE COLLEGE AND THE CIRCUS
the sudden scuffle of horses' feet and the clatter of wheels. It was the four-in-hand carrying the "Coterie of Western Beauties" and here it came straight down the street, gaining speed every second. The eyes of the horses showed what was the matter; they had taken it into their heads to run away. The crowd was scattering right and left. The Western beauties were screaming. The coach was swaying from side to side; the women were clinging together. "Good Heavens!" they heard one of them cry. It was Cherokee Charlie's wife. He turned his horse and tried to cut in and grab the leaders. His horse veered off. Every one was thinking about the next corner. There the horses would probably try to turn, the tents being in that direction. This meant that the top-heavy vehicle would go over; lamp-posts, pavements and cobble-stones would do the rest. The coach had now gone through the crowd, and all were crowding out upon the streets again to see what would happen. This is what happened:
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