The Trotter. 167 



any interest in the old horse, and was not even going to drive him, 

 still the names of Sam West and Morgan Rattler had been so long 

 connected, that hundreds who had not the slightest interest in either 

 horse came, and many from a long distance, as much to see the 

 famous Morgan Rattler as anything else. 



The night before the race he was favourite at about two to one, 

 but there was not much betting. His backers would have felt far 

 more confidence if his old master had been going to steer him; and 

 although very little was known about the mare, no one liked to take 

 liberties with old Jones, who did not often make a mistake. 



Early in the morning, Patty Morgan went over the ground, ridden 

 by old Jones "in mufti," and, although of course she did not do her 

 best, she pleased most who saw her. 



At ten, old Morgan was brought out in a bran-new light-match- 

 cart, driven by one of the best trotting jockeys in England, and 

 attended by a crowd of admirers. The old horse looked well, as 

 hard as beans, and his magnificent action and proud, lofty carriage 

 obtained him a host of friends. He was sent over the first mile 

 pretty sharply, brought gently back, and taken again to his stable. 

 He became a hot favourite now, and many laid three to one on 

 him ; but there were a good many there who had seen the old 

 horse pull orF many a previous match, and who had now ridden by 

 his side and watched him carefully. They had not forgotten how 

 freely he used to step out when "the squire" held the reins, and 

 they soon saw that his style of going in a stranger's hands was very 

 different to what it used to be with his old master up. This was 

 not lost upon them, and, although it seemed like deserting their old 

 colours, they could not believe it was safe laying three to one on 

 him. They preferred to take the odds rather than give them; and 

 even Jack Robson one of the old horse's staunchest admirers, and 

 Sam West's best friend booked 100 to 300 on the mare with the 

 captain, remarking as he closed the bet, "If the old squire was up, 

 mind, capten, I should lay the other way." Mr. Jones went quietly 

 wandering about among the crowd, saying nothing, but hearing 



