The race, its details, its objects, its surroundings faded away; these physical things were gone, and in place of them was present a dream, a spiritual interpretation such as the omens and influences of the times she lived in might well inspire.

What did she seem to see?
She saw the Spaniard and the Hollander striving for victory, but not a victory of horses.

She saw the black Spanish Wolf, at first triumphant, outmatch the Netherland Badger.

Still, the Badger, the dogged Dutch badger, held on.
Who would win?
The fierce beast or the patient beast?
Who would be the master in this fight?
There was death in it.

Look, the whole snow was red, the roofs of Leyden were red, and red the heavens; in the deep hues of the sunset they seemed bathed in blood, while about her the shouts of the backers and factions transformed themselves into a fierce cry as of battling peoples.