Midnight
On she flew , past the staring , gaping people , and for a mile beyond the church . By this time Fraser was so far in the rear that he gave up the race . Beaten and crestfallen he turned to the left , made for the shore and disappeared . At length Parson John was able to bring Midnight under control , when she trotted quietly down the river with a triumphant gleam in her handsome eyes . After the funeral had been conducted , a group at once surrounded the parson and questioned him concerning the strange occurrence on the river . Some were pleased with Fraser 's ignominious defeat , and treated it as a huge joke . But others were sorely scandalized .