no JUSTIN MORGAN 



Morgan a better horse. We have nothing to fear !" So 

 spoke Colonel Lloyd, bravely, and, patting Morgan's 

 long shoulder, he raised his hat with courtly grace and 

 bade his daughter, "God-speed!" right gaily. 



And Mistress Lloyd? She laughed serenely — ^that 

 same brook-like laugh of long ago; her lip did not 

 quiver nor her voice tremble. With such spirit do men 

 go into battle. She gathered the reins in her slim, bare 

 hands — no gloves should come between her and Mor- 

 gan's mouth that day — ^and smiled at her antagonist, as 

 if to say: 



"Morgan and I do not fear you and Silvertail !" 



When Silvertail' recognized Morgan, which he did at 

 once, he began to fret and prance. Morgan, however, 

 made no false motions ; he was saving every fibre of 

 energy. With eager nostrils and arching crest he 

 waited the signal to start. 



The Coxcomb sat his horse with consummate grace, 

 but his eyes glittered cruelly, in a way that boded ill for 

 Silvertail. In his hand he carried a silver-mounted 

 whip, on his heels spurs shone. 



Mistress Lloyd, on the other hand, had neither whip 

 nor spur; she ever depended on the tones of her voice 

 for success with horses ; sitting like .a model for an Ama- 

 zon, she waited, calm, serene. 



A furtive backward glance from Silvertail's eye said 

 plainly enough, "For less than a carrot I'd bolt, to get 

 out of this race !" 



Once Morgan quivered as he remembered what his 

 father had told him of Eclipse: "Eclipse first, the rest 

 nowhere !" 



To-day it should be "Morgan first, Silvertail no- 

 where !" The breeze blew lightly at his mane, his eyes 

 glowed, his neck strained as the signal was given. 



Morgan leaped forward. They were ofif! 



