black walls of pine
rose steep on either hand; the ground was uncertain. Our path mounted
sharply from the first; the steeper the better. By the time I had
reached Ober-Josbach, nestling high among larch-woods, I had distanced
all but two of my opponents. It was cooler now, too. As I passed the
hamlet my cry altered.

[Illustration: HOW FAR AHEAD THE FIRST MAN?]

'How far ahead the first man?'.

'Two minutes, Fraeulein,'

'A civilian?'

'No, no; a Prussian officer.'

The Herr Lieutenant led, then. For Old England's sake, I felt I must
beat him.

The steepest slope of all lay in the next two miles. If I were going to
win I must pass these two there, for my advantage lay all in the climb;
if it came to coasting, the men's mere weight scored a point in their
favour. Bump, crash, jolt! I pedalled away like a machine; the Manitou
sobbed; my ankles flew round so that I scarcely felt them. But the road
was rough and scarred with waterways--ruts turned by rain to runnels. At
half a mile, after a desperate struggle among sand and pebbles, I passed
the second man; just ahead, the Prussian officer looked round and saw
me. 'Thunder-weather! you there, Englaenderin?' he cried, darting me a
look of unchivalrous dislike, such as only your sentimental German can
cast at a woman.

[Illustration: I AM HERE BEHIND YOU, HERR LIEUTENANT.]

'Yes, I am here, behind you, Herr Lieutenant,' I answered, putting on a
spurt; 'and I hope next to be before you.'

He answered not a word, but worked his hardest. So did I. He bent
forward: I sat erect on my Manitou, pulling hard at my handles. Now, my
front wheel was upon him. It reached his pedal. We were abreast. He had
a narrow thread of solid path, and he forced me into a runnel. Still I
gained. He swerved: I think he tried to foul me. But the slope was too
steep; his attempt recoiled on himself; he ran against the rock at the
side and almost overbalanced. That second lost him. I waved my hand as I
sailed ahead. 'Good morning,' I cried, gaily. 'See you again at
Limburg!'

From the top of the slope I put my feet up and flew down into Idstein. A
thunder-shower burst: I was glad of the cool of it. It laid the dust. I
regained the high road. From that moment, save for the risk of
sideslips, 'twas easy running--just an undulating line with occasional
ups and downs; but I saw no more of my pursuers till, twenty-two
kilometres farther on, I rattled on the cobble-paved causeway into
Limburg