CHAPTEE XXIX. 



NEVER MINT) EN A RACE INSTRUCTIONS FOB DRIVING THE 

 HEATS CARE OF THE HORSE AFTEK THE RACE. 



PRECEPTOR. You make a brave appearance, with Falcon 

 heading the cavalcade. He has " the front and port of 

 royalty/' and at the same time he is too well bred to 

 show anything of curiosity in his deportment. Before 

 we put the horses in the barn, we will drive Falcon and 

 Never Mind round the track, in order that they may be- 

 come somewhat familiar with the ground, and also that 

 you may form some idea of how it lies. It is a trifle 

 unequal on its surface, and this you can take advantage 

 of, by saving Never Mind where the grade is ascending, 

 and make the pace as fast as you think necessary on the 

 descent. The Falcon will bowl along up and down hill 

 with the same facility, and from what I hear of his an- 

 tagonists, this will be the only way that will enable him 

 to win. There is no question but that two of the horses 

 that are in the first race the one Never Mind trots in 

 are fast, though I judge we have a couple of seconds' 

 advantage on this score. The pool selling in town was a 

 little mixed, and parties Were afraid to take any one for a 

 decided favorite. There was not much difference between 

 the two I have mentioned and Never Mind, the rest of 

 them going for merely a nominal sum. If I am not 

 mistaken, the first heat will rid us of the trouble they will 



