96 ON THE FKONTIEK. 



* 

 famous mare who had been recently retired, because her 



superiority as a quarter-runner caused her to be barred at all 

 neighbouring races. 



The day of the match arrived, and the attendance of 

 "sports" and general public was quite large. One of the 

 events had come off. Nothing had been seen of old S. S. or 

 the sucking colt, and the odds were " The National Debt to 

 a postage-stamp " against him no takers. 



The appointed hour had passed, and the thirty minutes 

 grace was drawing to a close, when the squire appeared, 

 riding his well-known cob, and leading the colt by a 

 draw-strap, accompanied by the mare, its mother, ridden 

 by a boy. On arrival he was greeted with a cheer, and 

 without loss of time dismounted and led the colt up to the 

 scratch. 



The colt was a splendid little fellow, promising to be 

 a dark bay with tan muzzle and black legs and feet ; in 

 tip-top condition, and was lunging and pulling to get 

 away to his dam, who had stopped a little way off. I 

 and some others lounged up to the mare to take a look 

 at her. For a mare in milk she appeared very much like 

 having been put in racing condition. I looked at her rider. 

 He had a long great-coat on ; he was one of the squire's 

 race-boys. I glanced down at the mare's feet she had 

 racing -plates on. 



As I walked back to the scratch I began to smell a very 

 large rat. Somebody offered long odds against the colt. I 

 took him, and offered to double. 



Chieftain and the sucking colt were already at [the 

 scratch. " Are you ready ? " calls the judge. " Yes," 



