296 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



diately galloped in every direction over the field, en- 

 couraging Jesse to get the descendant of Cuff along ; 

 straight ahead, the little black held the even tenor of 

 his way, whilst " Blan " would first leave him a rod, 

 and then drop back to him, in flickering fits of " game 

 and gravel." 



At the beginning of the fourth mile, " Boots " was 

 well up ; on going round the turn he passed " Blan " a 

 neck. (Immense cheering.) In the straight running 

 " Blan " again sloped by the pony, but remained satis- 

 fied with getting ahead the least bit imaginable. This 

 position was maintained to the turn, when " Boots " 

 came alongside, and before entering the quarter stretch, 

 drew out a full length in advance, amid deafening shouts 

 of "go it. Boots," "go it, darkey," "pop him, sooty," 

 " give him Jesse ; " and such like exclamations of dis- 

 paraging signification, but used in the most laudatory 

 sense of approbation. 



Jesse, unfortunately, in his eagerness to win the 

 heat ; used his cudgel carelessly, and accidentally gave 

 the black a clip on the head, which so " disgentled " him 

 that he turned almost entirely around before he could 

 be checked. In this way, he lost his advantage just as 

 he reached the distance stand, and it was well for him 

 that he had got that far, as " Boots " showed the most 

 implacable resentment to .such treatment, and tried to 

 run in every direction but the right one. 



Indeed he had not before exhibited such spirit ; he 



