A GREAT HORSE 



less throng as the time was posted, 29! seconds. Now 

 the wind was at his back, and reahzing the advantage, 

 Ketcham kept him going at his wonderful rate of 

 speed. The half-mile pole was passed in 59^ seconds, 

 a record never before attained by a trotter, and here 

 the second pace-maker joined the whirlwind trotter. 



Into the far turn and around it the great stallion 

 thundered, his mighty muscles and machine-like stride 

 carrying him as if on wings. The three-quarter pole 

 was passed in the wonderful time of i 130^, and the 

 great audience was breathless with excitement. Stern- 

 faced men gazed at their watches in astonishment, and 

 women clutched the arms of their escorts, and their 

 breath came in convulsive sobs, as they watched the 

 gallant animal struggling bravely on in his effort to 

 reach the goal. 



Come on Cresceus, battle to the end with the bull- 

 dog courage and determination of your long line of 

 glorious a*"cestors. Do not falter now in the hour of 

 your supreme triumph ! No ! He does not falter ; his 

 courage has stood the test, and superbly he swept into 

 the home-stretch. 



The bitter wind beat him in the face, and rang in 

 his ears with a mighty roar. For the fraction of a sec- 

 ond he seemed to falter, but Ketcham's encouraging 

 voice reached his ears above the awful roar of the wind 

 and on he came. With that indomitable courage which 

 makes him the champion that he is, he plunged on to- 

 ward the goal with unweakened stride, and fn spite 



it8 



