76 ASHGILL. 



The blacksmith could find nothing the matter 

 with her feet, and Mr, Osborne was fairly puzzled 

 to find where she was lame. She had been lame 

 in her shoulder when a two-year-old, but it was 

 pretty evident the trouble was not there now. 

 She also had an enlargement of the off fetlock 

 joint, but this was of long standing. Osborne, 

 however, thought he could feel a little heat in it 

 and promptly had recourse to hot fomentations, 

 which were kept up for some time. Then a hot 

 bandage was put on covered by a hot dry one, 

 and she was left till noon. Her legs were then 

 put into a bucket of cold water until it was time 

 for her to go to the course. 



Of course all sorts of rumours had been flying 

 over the town, and the bookmakers began to 

 knock her out, a course of action they had cause 

 to regret before they were many hours older. 

 At one time it was stated that she had been 

 scratched, and this reached the ears of Mrs, King, 

 who was present at Doncaster, Mrs, King, how- 

 ever, was incredulous, and said she was sure her 

 husband would run the mare if she only had 

 three legs when all his Yorkshire and Lincoln- 

 shire friends had backed her so freely.* 



'■'•' This is probably the origin of the commonly received story 

 that when Osborne found Apology lame he telegraphed to Mr. 

 King asking for instructions, and that Mr. King wired back, 

 " Run her if she only has three legs." This is entirely wrong. 

 Mr. King's confidential servant wired to him that the more went 

 short in her morning gallop, and the reply message was, " Win 



