THE GREAT FOUR-MILE DAY. 291 
which, by the help of such coaxing as was inherent in a 
stout cane used by Jesse (the black boy who rode him), 
he maintained with wonderful precision. The cracks 
went off at a slow gallop ; both riders being ordered to 
go gently along. In this way they ran the first mile. 
The second mile was done in the same manner, and now 
for the first time was heard the exhortation, “ go it, 
Boots,” as the little black kept closely up. The pace 
did not improve the third mile, poth Dr. B and J. 
iit knowing that neither horse had more than a 
short brush in him. Upon the fourth mile the speed 


did not quicken, until Jesse, taking heart from his close- 
ness to the leading horses, actually challenged the hind- 
ermost one for the front. Such a shout as went up upon 
this rally, was never before heard upon that field. 
“ Go it, Boots,” burst from every mouth, and even the 
ladies moved their ’kerchiefs and murmured soft ap- 
plause. But chivalrous as the effort was, it came near 
costing ‘‘ Boots” the laurels that were wreathing for his 
brow. The push was made too soon. The jockeys be- 
came cognizant of the proximity of the unheralded 
scrub, and went off at the top of the speed of their re- 
spective horses. ‘“ Boots” was fast falling into the 
rear; but as good luck would have it, they could not 
quite distance him, but in attempting to do so, they 
completely used up the “cracks.” 
Epaminondas won this heat by a neck. The stable 
boys again got around the descendants of Godolphin, 
