70 THE LIFE or A RACEHOnSE. 



Lility of our stable getting their money on, it was cTctcrmined 

 that I shoLihl start for the stakes, John Sellusall remarking in 

 my presence, that " little fish were sweet enough when larger 

 couldn't be caught." It is needless to say more concerning 

 these races than that I met but very small fields, in which 

 there was nothing to compete with but what I could run away 

 from at any point, and win, as was wished, from end to end. 

 Eor the Ebor St. Leger I cantered in so easily, that something 

 short of two lengths after passing the post I was turned for 

 my rider to go to scale amid the exulting hurrahs of those 

 who seemed to consider this victory the shadow of the still 

 greater one to be contended for in the Doncaster St. Leger, 

 and that, too, within a very brief period. 



The week prior to that appointed for the decision of this 

 most important event, I learned through Harry Dale's frequent 

 communings with himself, as he sat on the bottom of the 

 stable-pail, making abstruse calculations upon the safe method 

 to be adopted for the increase of his winnings, that the betting 

 was five to four on me, and three to two against Clcarwell. 

 Nothing else, however, was thought to possess a chance in the 

 race ; the popular opinion being, that it was reduced to a match 

 between us. One morning, just before my intended departure 

 for Doncaster, after I v/as dressed and left to Toby's blandish- 

 ments or my own reflections, I felt some surprise at hearing 

 the key turn, as I thought, stealthily in the lock of the door of 

 my box, and soon afterwards in seeing John Sellusall enter, 

 accompanied by ISTed, the old lemon-visaged jockey. I cannot 

 siccount for the cause, but, the moment my eyes fell upon them, 

 an instinctive feeling of dread and presentiment of evil took 

 possession of me. 



"We shall be quiet here," observed my trainer, gently 

 closing the door. 



Ned stifled a short, dry cough, and, striding forwards, took 

 up a position v/ith his light, reduced, bony frame resting 

 against a corner of my crib. 



John Sellusall, with the acute angles of his mouth dra-vvn 

 back, threw a cold, negligent glance over me, and, slowly fold- 



