FOUNDER OF HIS RACE 107 



membering how he, too, had been defeated by him years 

 ago, at Chase's Mill ! 



"Then 'tis settled," he said, confidently. 



"Nay, not settled!" cried the lady, with well-feigned 

 gaiety. "We've yet to put the matter in writing, all in 

 due form with the Judge to advise." For Mistress 

 Lloyd was no careless person, when it came to business, 

 nor no mean reader of men. 



She placed her hand for a moment under Morgan's 

 jaw and felt his pulses surge in response to her touch; 

 then she drew herself erect, reassured — as if the race 

 were already won ! 



They left the stable making- their plans. 



An hour later, Judge Wing and the Colonel came into 

 the Morgan's stall. 



"My dear sir," the Colonel was saying, "the folly of 

 it ! My daughter — and to ride for such a stake ! But 

 you know the girl. She has set her heart on it — I can 

 do nothing. She winds me about her finger as if I were 

 a piece of string, since her dear mother died. Our 

 trouble is all my fault, what with mortgages and debts 

 of honor, I am well paid for my follies — and, after all, 

 this race is better than seeing her married to the author 

 of all our unhappiness. Yet if she should not win !" 



"No need to worry over that, my friend," the Judge 

 said. "Morgan has already beaten this Silvertail horse." 



"You don't tell me !" 



"I recall the circumstances perfectly," continued the 

 Judge. "Silvertail* is a horse with a reputation ; he was 

 bred in St. Lawrence County, New York, and the Mor- 

 gan once won a stake of fifty -dollars in a race against 

 him. It was in the life-time of Justin Morgan himself, 

 and Master Morgan, sir, ofifered Silvertail two chances 

 to redeem himself afterwards, in either walking or run- 



* Morgan Horses, Linsley, page 134. 



