But ere they took their seats to ride By more than one the horns were tried, Each striving with tremendous strain The most enlivening sound to gain, And prove he had a special right To blow the horn throughout the night. [Illustration] Though some were crowded in a seat, And some were forced to keep their feet Or sit upon another's lap, And some were hanging to a strap, With merry laugh and ringing shout, And tooting horns, they drove about. A dozen miles, perhaps, or more, The lively band had traveled o'er, Commenting on their happy lot And keeping horses on the trot, When, as they passed a stunted oak A wheel was caught, the axle broke! [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] Then some went out with sudden pitch, And some were tumbled in the ditch, And one jumped off to save his neck, While others still hung to the wreck. Confusion reigned, for coats were rent, And hats were crushed, and horns were bent, And what began with fun and clatter Had turned to quite a serious matter. [Illustration] [Illustration] Some blamed the drivers, others thought The tooting horns the trouble brought. More said, that they small wisdom showed, Who left the root so near the road. But while they talked about their plight Upon them burst the morning light With all the grandeur and the sheen That June could lavish on the scene. So hitching horses where they could, The Brownies scampered for the wood. And lucky were the Brownies spry: A dark and deep ravine was nigh That seemed to swallow them alive So quick were they to jump and dive, To safely hide from blazing day That fast had driven night away, And forced them to leave all repairs To other heads and hands than theirs. THE BROWNIES ON [Illustration] THE RACE-TRACK. [Illustration] [Illustration]