TINY PIPPIN". 97 



Eagerly I drank down the few go-downs of water wliich 

 Tiny, stimulated to a sharp movement, soon brought me ; but 

 I could not have eaten a single oat of the corn thrown into my 

 crib, had the prize which my trainer mentioned depended upon 

 the accomplishment. 



" Off your feed, eh ? " observed he, standing close to my 

 head, and narrowly examining my eyes. " Nothing the matter, 

 though — only a little fretful at what's coming off. Knows 

 what's up as well as I do. Mustn't come the artful next time 

 with your mane and plates, old boy, and not let ye into the 

 secret too soon. Now, look alive with him ; come, look alive.'* 



Tiny Pippin obeyed the orders with as much vigour and 

 alacrity as he was possessed of, and seemed to be free from an 

 immense load of personal responsibility at the line of policy 

 adopted by his master. 



It is unnecessary for me to dwell longer upon my suffering, 

 or the disappointment I caused in losing the Metropolitan. I 

 may add, however, that by the time I was brought out to iim 

 there was little, very little, that could be seen by the most 

 experienced eye of anything being amiss. A few remarked 

 that I looked "dra^vn too fine;" some thought me "anything 

 but in my three-year-old form ;" others, that "I had greatly 

 improved, as my running would show ;" but, alas ! the official 

 report of the race, announcing that "among the first beaten 

 was Sheet Anchor, who walked in last," presented undeniable 

 testimony of the fallacy of this proof I did my best to go to 

 the front and stay there ; but the struggle was indeed in vain. 

 After the first mile I was run to a stand still, and in a white 

 lather I came staggering along amid the ribaldry and jeering 

 laughter of the knowing ones who had laid against me. All 

 seemed to forget, quite forget that upon the same green sward, 

 and not a year since, I had been hailed as the victor of the 

 Derby, and almost worshipped by thousands for my triumph. 

 As I was pulled up, not one, however, came near to solace the 

 beaten favourite ; but fi:iendless and alone, I stood with totter- 

 ing limbs, exhausted, punished, and defeated. 



There were a few jokes at Tattersall's on the following 



G 



