THE THIRD HEAT. 430 



PIIECEPTOB. No telling. I notice a good deal of com- 

 motion among the party, and their horse may not be in a 

 much better fix than ours. We must disguise our weak- 

 ness as much as we can, and must therefore be prompt 

 at the ringing of the bell. He is now getting along better, 

 and he does not labor so much in breathing, having re- 

 covered more rapidly than I expected he would, from his 

 appearance at the termination of the heat. His eye has 

 also regained its animation, so we will endeavor to win 

 this heat, without the aid of anything but a sup of the 

 gruel. Save him all you can consistent with keeping the 

 lead, which you had better retain, your horse being more 

 apt to lose courage, when the others are in advance of 

 him. 



Well, our flag is lowered, and that heat is lost. We will 

 not throw up the sponge, however, until compelled. You 

 will observe how differently he breathes now from what he 

 did after the first heat. The respirations were quicker then, 

 but he " blew out " forcibly, and there was not so much ab- 

 dominal effort. He still sweats freely, which will aid in re- 

 covering him from internal difficulty. Kub him dry rapidly, 

 and while the boys are at work, envelop the legs with 

 bandages, putting them on reasonably snug. Pick a little 

 grass for him to be eating. You were only beaten at the 

 very last, and I thought you had the race safe until you 

 were half down the stretch. 



PUPIL. He first tired a little beyond the half-mile pole, 

 and as I could take a pull coming round the turn, I was 

 in hopes he would recover sufficiently to come home. But 

 the driver of the other horse seemed to discover for the 

 first time the difficulty I was in, and kept sending his 

 horse as fast as he could, so there was no chance for me 

 to save him unless I surrendered the inside. I did not 

 think it policy to do so, and Never Mind struggled along 

 with more resolution than I expected. It was a very closo 



