153 THE ART OF TRAIKENG ANIMALS. 



three herrings, but, as a reward, yet another herring extra. 

 Oa the fifth day Nero was fully up to the game, and his 

 master experienced considerable difficulty to keep up with him. 

 At Scheveningeu the usual allowance — ^now of four herrings — 

 was placed at his disposal, and disposed of by him iu short 

 meter. 



On the days following, and up to the time of the race, his 

 master had no farther difficulty with Nero, but to keep up with 

 him, Nero invariably taking the lead, although on the return 

 trips the same difficulties always i-ecurred. A vigorous appli- 

 cation of boots was in such cases the only convincing argument 

 with Nero, who never could see the point nor comprehend the 

 necessity, of this back-track movement, and ever obstreperously 

 squealed or grunted his objections. On the ninth day Nero, had 

 become perfectly trained, and having grown extremely thin upon 

 his scanty meals, he now ran like a race-horse, invariably dis- 

 tancing his master, who followed with a fast trotting horse m 

 harness. Both exercise and spare diet were, however, strictly 

 adhered to up to the day preceding the one on which the race 

 was to come off. On that, the thirteenth day, as on the first 

 day, poor Nero was again starved. At the usual hour of eleven 

 his master appeared, but Nero was doomed to disappointment 

 — no trot, no herrings on that day. With eager eye and impa- 

 tient gruht he signified his desire to b^ released from his pen ; 

 but, alas, it was not to be. 



On the fourteenth day both horse and hog appeared at the 

 starting post, eager for the race. It was a beautiful day, and 

 the road was lined the entire distance, on both sides, with anx- 

 ious and delighted spectators eager to see the sport. Punctually 

 at eleven o'clock, at tap of drum off they started, amidst the 

 shouts and hurrahs of the multitude. The first two miles were 

 closely contested — it was emphatically a neck and neck race j 

 but Nero, light as feather, and having in his mind's eye, probably, 

 his delectable meal, now fairly flew over the course, gradually 

 leaving the horse behind, keeping the lead the entire distance. 

 Amidst shouts and hurrahs, the waving of handkerchiefs, and 

 the wildest excitement, he reached the winning post, beating the 

 horse by half a mile, and winning the race triumphantly. 



For this extraordinary performance, Nero was rewarded with 

 a pailful of herrings, which, having feasted upon to his heart's 

 content, he waddled back to the Hague, in the care of his mas- 

 ter, *^ the admired of all admirers." His master, pocketing the 

 purse of one thousand guilders, generously spent one hundred 

 guilders for Nero's portrait, which is now preserved at the 

 sportsman's club at the Hague. 



