an unfinished race

by Ambrose Bierce

James Burne Worson was a shoemaker who lived in Leamington, Warwickshire, England . he had a little shop in one_of_the by-ways leading off the road to Warwick . in_his humble sphere he_was esteemed an honest man, although like many of_his class in English towns he_was somewhat addicted to drink . when in liquor he_would make foolish wagers . on one_of_these too frequent occasions he_was boasting of_his prowess as a pedestrian and athlete, and_the outcome was a match against nature . for a stake of one sovereign he undertook to run all the way to Coventry and back, a distance of something more than forty miles . this_was on_the 3d day of September in 1873 . he set out at once, the man with_whom he had made the bet-- whose name is_not remembered-- accompanied by Barham wise, a linen draper, and Hamerson Burns, a photographer, i_think, following in a light cart or wagon .

for several miles Worson went on very_well, at an easy gait, without apparent fatigue, for he had really great powers of endurance and was not sufficiently intoxicated to enfeeble them . the three men in_the wagon kept a short distance in_the rear, giving him occasional friendly "chaff" or encouragement, as_the spirit moved them . suddenly-- in_the very middle of_the roadway, not a dozen yards from_them, and with their eyes full upon him-- the man seemed to stumble, pitched headlong forward, uttered a terrible cry and vanished ! he_did_not fall to_the earth-- he vanished before touching it . no trace of him was ever discovered .

after remaining at and about_the spot for some_time, with aimless irresolution, the three men returned to Leamington, told their astonishing story and were afterward taken into custody . but they were of good standing, had always been considered truthful, were sober at_the_time of_the occurrence, and nothing ever transpired to discredit their sworn account of_their extraordinary adventure, concerning the truth of_which, nevertheless, public opinion was divided, throughout_the United_Kingdom . if_they had something to conceal, their choice of means is certainly one_of_the_most amazing ever made by sane human beings .