Midnight
So intent was the one upon watching the horse , and the other upon his sermon , that neither noticed a man driving a spirited horse dart out from behind a sharp point on the left , and cut straight across the river . It was old Tim Fraser , as big a rogue as existed anywhere in the land . He was very fond of horses , and that winter had purchased a new flier . He was an incessant boaster , and one day swore that he could out-travel anything on the river , Midnight included . He laid a wager to that effect , which was taken up by Dave Morehouse , who imagined the race would never come off , for Mr. Westmore would have nothing to do with such sport . Old Fraser , therefore , set about to meet Parson John , but for some time had failed to make connection . Hearing about the funeral , he was determined that the race should come off that very Sunday , and in the presence of the mourners and their friends at that .