104 ROAD, TRACK, AND STABLE. 



opportunities, and a single bad break would cause 

 Smuggler's defeat. Excitement subdued the specta- 

 tors to perfect stillness, and not a sound was heard 

 except the rhythmical tramp of the five horses, as 

 they thundered down the stretch to the wire for 

 the 



Fourth Heat. At the second attempt the judges 

 gave the word " Go" as Smuggler was trotting stead- 

 ily, although somewhat behind the others. The 

 Maid, as usual, rushed off with the lead, and Lucille 

 Golddust took the second place, being pulled out a 

 little, so as to bring her near the centre of the track. 

 This left Marvin in a very bad position, technically 

 known as a "pocket." He could not slip in be- 

 tween the other two horses, for Doble kept the Maid 

 back just far enough to prevent such a move; and 

 if he should check his own horse sufficiently to get 

 past Lucille Golddust, much distance would be lost. 

 What he did was to remain in this helpless situation 

 until the home stretch was reached, thinking that 

 the driver of Golddust would finally get out of his 

 way; but this did not happen, and when Smuggler 

 was onl}' three hundred yards from the wire, when 

 Goldsmith Maid had a long lead, when "a smile of 

 triumph lighted Doble's face, and the crowd settled 

 sullenly down to the belief that the race was over," 

 then at last the driver of Smuggler pulled him back 

 and turned to the right, so as to get out of the 

 pocket, and made desperate play for the heat. Con- 

 trary to what every one expected, the horse did not 

 break, despite this interference with his stride, but, 

 keeping level and steady, came down the course, 

 when he saw the way clear before him, with a 



