now TO MAKE A EOOK. Do 



" He*s a lustre," cried a third, " and shall carry my aunt's 

 last fiddle-headed tea-spoon !" 



Amid these high-sounding praises I entered my box, and 

 Toby commenced a game of patting my nose, as he marched 

 and purred, delighted at my return, on the edge of the crib. 



My value had now increased, and additional attention 

 seemed to be bestoAved on the comforts provided for my 

 refreshment. I was well and quickly dressed, my legs 

 fomented with hot water, and bandaged with the greatest 

 care ; my feet washed, examined, and cleaned from the 

 smallest particle of grit; a draft of smooth, wheaten-flour 

 gruel, of the thickness of cream, given me to suck through 

 my thirsty and feverish lips; a sweet bran-mash, in lieu of 

 corn, thrown into my crib, wdth a lock of hay shaken in my 

 rack ; and the task of those who waited upon me with so much 

 willingness was done. 



The door of my box closed, and I and Toby were once more 

 alone. 



CHAPTER X 



now TO MAKE A BOOK. 



In the language of "our stable," I "wintered well;" and, 

 although thrown out of work from the continuance of a long 

 and severe frost, I got rid of the superabundance of flesh, 

 which increased quickly during my respite from strong gallops, 

 when set going again, without the smallest damage to my legs 

 or feet. Upon the first green buds tinging the hawthorn, to 

 apply a metaphor of my trainer, " I was as sound as a roach, 

 and fine as a star, and fit to run for a man's life." From the 

 conversation wliich occasionally took place in my box, I learned 

 that my first spring engagement was for the Column Stakes 

 at the Newmarket Craven Meeting ; but, from some unex- 

 plained cause, it was resolved that I should not start for them. 

 My next was for what is now called " the Blue Kiband of the 

 Turf" — the Derby. For this, the most important event for 

 which a horse can be entered, I stood first in the betting at an 



