216 THE HORSE. 



rendered useless to Ariel the wings of her gallant namesake. 

 Her ultimate exertions could only bring her within three or 

 four lengths of this kill-devil, at the winning post. Tlie heat 

 was run in 7m. 52s. , the last two miles in 3m. 52s. 



" The loss of the heat rendered the prospects of Ariel still 

 more gloomy, and the chance of winning so desperate, that it 

 was determined to withdraw her — this was on the point of be- 

 ing announced, when, as the groom was leading up Betsey to 

 receive the award of victory, the experienced eye of Ariel's 

 trainer, detected in Betsey Eansom some indication of sorrow — 

 there were three or four minutes to spare — he hastily threw on 

 his saddle, and started her. Betsey again took the lead, at a 

 pace so rapid, that it gave lier long and silvery tail the appear- 

 ance of a meteor streaming in the wind ; for three miles she 

 kept frolicking on — sometimes breaking away and making a 

 gap, that seemed to say, ' I will punish you, dainty spirit of 

 the air, for your presumption, by leaving you without the dis- 

 tance ' — and again waiting for her, as if repenting so harsh a 

 purpose. In the mean time, Ariel went steadily on, at a gait 

 that did not vary, except once in the second mile — when in 

 changing her feet she threw her rider forward and lost eight or 

 ten yards, by the falter ; at the end of three miles and a quar- 

 ter, Betsey found Ariel within a yard of her — in another instant 

 alongside — now came a struggle for the track, desperate and 

 determined. It created an interest so deep, and a silence so 

 profound, that one might almost hear the hearts of the multi- 

 tude beat — it could not last long — at the end of a straight quar- 

 ter, Ariel has the track. ' Ariel is ahead,' was thundered out 

 with a shout that would have waked the soundest sleeper 

 of the seven. There was a half a mile yet to go. Ariel 

 keeps the track — no time to lose — one short half mile, one 

 short minute more, Ariel may pluck a laurel from her wreath, 

 that she must regain, or unbind her brows. They turned down 

 the straight side of the last quarter, Ariel half her length 

 ahead — neither rider had a whijD, from an idea of its useless- 

 ness — they are at the distance post, side by side — what would 

 not have been given for a whip — a whip — a whip — the result 

 upon a whip — a single stroke might decide upon it. Betsey's 



