300 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUx\TER. 



At the close of the first mile, " Boots " was two hun- 

 dred yards ahead, aud pegging away as if the devil was 

 behind him, and a phantom corn heap in front. 



Blan7ierhasseWs jockey now used whip and spur to 

 overtake the flying imp — but it was in vain. His horse 

 responded to the steel and lash for a few strides, and 

 then gave out ; fatigued, — lamed, — and broken down. 



Meanwhile " Boots,^^ not having the reputation of 

 Blannerhassett before his eyes, but the dread of the 

 cudgel behind him, was rattling it off at a merry pace. 

 Upon entering the third mile of the heat Jesse came in 

 view of his antagonist, pretty near the spot where he 

 was overtaken himself, in the beginning of the day. The 

 boy could not for a time comprehend how '' Blan " got 

 before him, and was evidently becoming bewildered with 



the phenomenon, when the Hon. J. L told him to 



push on, and beat the blooded stock, as far as he had 

 been beaten. 



The darkey understanding now that he had gained a 

 mile, showed his ivory to the spectators and his cudgel 

 to " Boots;' and swept by the done-up nag, like a ball 

 fired out of a cannon charged with slow matches. 



I will make no attempt to describe the shouts of the 

 people at the issue, until I can dip my pen in electricity 

 to write in thunder drops, — or in the prism, to depict 

 the eye of beauty as it flashed applause, to the unher- 

 alded champion. 



This feat achieved, — there was no competitor for 



