'I guess this will be an international affair,' Mr. Hitchcock remarked, well pleased. 'It would be a first-rate adver_tize_ment for the Great Manitou ef England and Germany were to make the question into a _casus belli_. The United States could look on, and pocket the chestnuts.' 'Two minutes to go,' the official starter with the watch called out. 'Fall in, then, Fraeulein Englaenderin,' the Herr Over-Superintendent observed, without prejudice, waving me into line. He pinned a badge with a large number, 7, on my dress. 'The Kaiserly and Kingly Governments shall on the affair of the starting's legality hereafter on my report more at leisure pass judgment.' The lieutenant in undress uniform drew back a little. 'Oh, if this is to be woman's play,' he muttered, 'then can a Prussian officer himself by competing not into contempt bring.' I dropped a little curtsy. 'If the Herr Lieutenant is afraid even to _enter_ against an Englishwoman----' I said, smiling. He came up to the scratch sullenly. 'One minute to go!' called out the starter. We were all on the alert. There was a pause; a deep breath. I was horribly frightened, but I tried to look calm. Then sharp and quick came the one word 'Go!' And like arrows from a bow, off we all started. I had ridden over the whole course the day but one before, on a mountain pony, with an observant eye and my sedulous American--rising at five o'clock, so as not to excite undue attention; and I therefore knew beforehand the exact route we were to follow; but I confess when I saw the Prussian lieutenant and one of my other competitors dash forward at a pace that simply astonished me, that fifty pounds seemed to melt away in the dim abyss of the Ewigkeit. I gave up all for lost. I could never make the running against such practised cyclists. [Illustration: DON'T SCORCH, MISS; DON'T SCORCH.] However, we all turned out into the open road which leads across the plain and down the Main valley, in the direction of Mayence. For the first ten miles or so, it is a dusty level. The surface is perfect; but 'twas a blinding white thread. As I toiled along it, that broiling June day, I could hear the voice of my backer, who followed on horseback, exhorting me in loud tones, 'Don't scorch, miss; don't scorch; never mind ef you lose sight of 'em. Keep your wind; that's the point. The wind, the wind's everything. Let 'em beat you on the level; you'll catch 'em up fast enough when you get on the Taunus!' But in spite of his encouragement, I almost lost heart as I saw one after another of my opponents' backs disappear in the distance, till at last I was left toiling along the bare white road alone, in a shower-bath of sunlight, with just a dense cloud of dust rising gray far ahead of me. My head swam. It repented me of my boldness.