88 TIIE LIFE OF A EACEIIORSE. 



"Go !" We flew to tlie signal. For a few yards together, 

 T/e swept head and head, as we had done before; but getting 

 into my stride, with something perhaps like madness in the 

 effort, I drew avv^ay from Clearwell, length by length, and soon. 

 made a wide gap between him and me. 



Tiny Pippin pulled hard ; but in vain. I vfould be in front, 

 and that too by as far as I could get. 



Faster and faster yet I led the way, until more than a score 

 of lengths divided us. Dead and li\dng weight felt as nothing 

 to me. On I rushed amid the raised shouts now just audible 

 from the knot of spectators assembled about the winning-post, 

 "Sheet Anchor ! Sheet Anchor wins !" Althoujrh I had shaken 



o 



my I'ival completely off before reaching the distance, yet I slack- 

 ened not my speed. Past the chair I sped, amid ringing plau- 

 dits for my success; but as I did so, a pang, keen and acute, 

 shot itself upwards from my near fore leg to my brain. 



As Tiny Pippin dismounted to go to scale, it was discovered 

 that I had " broken down." 



CHAPTER XYII. 



MY BREAK DOWN : ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES. 



My new, very new owner had spoken of my breaking do^vIl 

 in a selling stake as part of the contemplated scheme for get- 

 ting me lightly weighted for some great handicap ; but he was 

 little prepared for the accident to occur in the shape of a stern 

 reality. This link in the plan was to make me to appear to 

 have broken down, without the calamity having absolutely be- 

 fallen me. His excessive mortification, therefore, may easily be 

 imagined when the veterinary surgeon, who arrived as soon as 

 I limped back to my stable, informed liim, after a careful ex- 

 amination of my leg, that I had met with a most serious injury. 

 "Tlicse flexor tendons," said the veterinary surgeon, one 

 whom IsTev/market conceded to be both learned and skilful in 

 the treatment of the many ills and maladies to which we are 

 prone — "these flexor tendons," repeated he, passing a hand 



