The Trotter. 169 



bonny little thing, though she has not got the stretch of old Morgan," 

 was the verdict that was passed on her. The old man rode without 

 whip and spur, in a plain ring snaffle. 



They took their places, Patty Morgan a hundred yards ahead. 

 The umpires were all ready, the watches set, and at the word "Go!" 

 both went off at a slashing pace, accompanied by, perhaps, a hun- 

 dred horsemen who wanted to see the race run throughout. Some 

 of the longest winded of the roughs also ran by them for a hundred 

 yards or so, cheering old Morgan with all sorts of yells and strange 

 noises. From the very start the old horse overpowered his jockey, 

 and came thundering after the mare at such a pace, that at the end 

 of the first mile there was scarcely a length between them. But the 

 mare had been going quietly within herself, old Jones's hands down 

 the whole time; while old Morgan was fretting and fuming, shak- 

 ing his head, yawing, and boring at the bit as if he would pull his 

 jockey's arms off". After passing the first milestone, old Jones 

 pressed the mare with his knees, and shouting to her, "Come up, 

 old woman!" she shot out at her best speed. Old Morgan now 

 broke j it was plain his temper was gone, and the heat was no longer 

 in doubt, for the mare went stealing away from him and shot past 

 the milestone more than one hundred and fifty yards in advance, 

 having done the two miles in 5 min. 53 sees. 



The backers of the old horse looked blue ; it was clear that the 

 name of Morgan Rattler was no longer a name of dread unless 

 coupled with that of Sam West. The betting for the second heat 

 was even, the mare for choice. This was a very hollow affair; old 

 Morgan broke three times, and the mare won at least by three hun- 

 dred yards, and was never pressed. 



This was Morgan Rattler's last performance in our county. The 

 captain left the Grange as soon as Sam's affairs were wound up, and 

 took old Morgan up to London with him. Whether he ever trotted 

 him again, I don't know; but I fancy he set up a brougham on the 

 strength of the money he had won of Sam, and drove the old horse 

 in it at least I judge so from the following fact. 



