No one I know, except a half-witted boy, ever rode down among these monuments.
And how wonderful a place! It can't be more than twenty miles from home....

I must be going soon.

I'm forgetting Sage King.

Did I tell you I was training him for the races ?" "No, you didn't.

What races?
Tell me," he replied, with keen interest.
Then Lucy told him about the great passion of her father--about the long, time-honored custom of free-for-all races, and the great races that had been run in the past; about the Creeches and their swift horses; about the rivalry and speculation and betting; and lastly about the races to be run in a few weeks--races so wonderful in prospect that even the horse-thief, Cordts, had begged to be allowed to attend.
"I'm going to see the King beat Creech's roan," shouted the rider, with red in his cheeks and a flash in his eye.
His enthusiasm warmed Lucy's interest, yet it made her thoughtful.
Ideas flashed into her mind.