288 



THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



he bad completely upset the gravity of the audience, 

 whose powers of composing themselves to the thoughtful 

 mood becoming the occasion, seemed gone for ever, to 



the great chagrin of J. H , and Dr. B , who 



cavorted about in their anger, as much as their horses. 



First Heat. — There was great difficulty in starting 

 the horses. Several false "get offs " were made. The 

 star actors in the drama pirouetted most provokingly, 

 whilst the rider of ^'■Boots'''' made Jiim toe the line, 

 where he waited with meekness and humility for the 

 word " go," and even after tJiat was given, manifested 

 little anxiety to change his position. 



The thorough-breds went at it, pell-mell. The un- 

 due share of attention given to " Boots " by the crowd, 

 had first nettled their owners and afterwards their jock- 

 eys. Away they went like twin bullets, leaving ^^ Boots " 

 so far behind, that before the first mile was done he was 

 lost sight of. "When they entered the quarter stretch 

 of the close of the second mile, " Boots " was for the 

 first time passing the judges' stand. On they went with 

 resistless fury. 



In the beginning of the third mile " Boots,''"' was 

 seen about a hundred yards in advance. This some- 

 what startled the spectators, who in the closeness of the 

 running between " Blannerhassett " and " Epaminon- 

 das " had for a moment forgotten all about him. There 

 he was though, in front, and pegging away with hearty 

 good will — ahead it is true in point of position, but ac- 



