The streets were crowded with passengers from the mail coaches; the Foote House was taxed to capacity; four-, six- and eight-horse teams, with now and then a Canadian spike-team, blocked the thoroughfares. Into this atmosphere of excitement and interest David and Goss cantered early that morning, and put up at the house of Mr. Loomis. This historic house had sheltered His Royal Highness, Edward, Duke of Kent, who, in the year 1793, was travelling with his suite in sleighs from Boston to Canada. It was built of logs hewn out with a broad-axe and made a most warm and fitting place for so great a personage to tarry in, not less comfortable did our two more humble friends find it sixteen years later. Nothing eventful occurred after the launching of the boat except that Goss met a horse from Maryland, who gave him news of Mistress Lloyd, now married to an army officer, known as the dashing Lieutenant Tom Dulaney. The Southern horse told him also of the lately opened Baltimore course and of the great race there between Mr. Ogle’s Oscar and First Consul, and how Oscar ran the second heat in the extraordinary time of 7:40, a speed that had never been exceeded for the same distance, and which seemed almost a miracle! FOOTNOTES: [11] “In the relations, duties, and pleasures of the road--and family-horse the Morgan has never had an equal in this country, no matter what his blood.”--_John Wallace, Wallace’s Monthly._ [12] “I have always admired the Morgans. I believe that no family of horses has ever been produced which possesses in a high degree so many valuable qualities which go to make up an ideal gentleman’s roadster, a family, or all-purpose horse, as the family founded by Justin Morgan.”--_S. W. Parlin, Editor, American Horse Breeder._ CHAPTER XVII. IN THE FLOOD OF 1811. In 1811 Samuel Stone bought the little horse and changed his name back to Morgan. Once more he went to live in Randolph, which had been the scene of his early triumphs. There had been many changes in the town, and nearly all his old friends had moved away or outgrown their interest in tests of strength and speed. Only one of them was left, James Kelsey, and he, being fond of horses, often rode Morgan from place to place for Stone. Kelsey was called the village “cut-up,” though he was no longer a boy, but he had a kind heart and was the friend of every one. Sometimes he rode the Morgan alongside the stage-coaches and thrilled the passengers with stories of pioneer times; of bears, and Indians. One day, as they were nearing Tunbridge, Kelsey told them of the burning of that place by three hundred Indians, who swept down from the north under the command of a British soldier, Lieutenant Horton.