84 THE LIFE OP A RACEHORSE. 



threw back my ears in a threatening attitude, by way of a hint 

 of my objection to liberties being taken on the part of any 

 stranscer. As if somethins^ too hot to be apjreeable to his 

 fingers, he dropped the corner of the quarter-piece, and coming 

 dose to my head looked attentively at my eyes, as if to read 

 therein the qualities of my temper. "Whatever his conclusion 

 might have been, it appeared to be of a highly satisfictory 

 nature, for the angles of his mouth were drawn further back, 

 and, I thought, the semblance of a smile flickered over his 

 hard-favoured countenance. 



"You have backed this colt, boy?" said our trainer, in- 

 terrogatively. 



" Yessir," sharply responded Harry, with a jerking tug at 

 the duck's tail. 



" He goes quietly?" 



" Sometimes, sir," rejoined my attendant. 



" How does he follow up a gallop ?" 



" Can't say, sir," returned Harry. " Never rode him, sir. 

 Never saw him rode, sir. Never heard of his being rode, sir." 



"But you've galloped him single-handed?" 



"A mild canter now and then, sir," added Harry. "Nothing 

 more." 



"Top always places his colt well broken in my hands, 

 Spanky," continued our trainer, turning to his head lad. " We'll 

 put this one in the string this morning, and set him going." 



Spanky made a signal of acquiescence by touching the peak 

 of his cap ; but said nothing. 



"The morning's mild," resumed Mr. Sellusall, "and, as 

 \ he'll take a gentle pipe-opener, let him have the quarter-piece, 

 ^ hood, and breast-cloth on without the rug." 



Spanky again signified his entire assent to the proposition, 

 by slightly repeating the telegraphic movement. 



I was now left for something short of half an hour, when 

 Harry again made his appearance, and, turning my head round, 

 he adjusted my hood and bridle, drew up the girths, and waited, 

 in accordance with the express orders he had received, for the 

 second appearance of the head lad. Before his patience had 



