192 SPORTING STORIES 



the race. Like all horses of Venison's blood, his temper 

 was not of the mildest kind, and his owner was glad to 

 get rid of him. When started for Rawclifife the man who 

 had him in charge was told on no account to put him in a 

 stable as he would never get him out. Of course, the 

 injunction was disregarded ; for, when the man wanted some 

 refreshment he put Cruiser in the public stable and left 

 him, and to get him out the roof had to be ripped off. At 

 Rawcliffe, Cruiser was always exhibited by a groom with 

 a ticket-of-leave bludgeon in his hand, and few were bold 

 enough to venture into the animal's enclosure," etc. 



This, however, was but a poor description of the doings 

 of this amiable animal. For months he had been tormented 

 by a huge bit, his head encased in a complication of iron 

 bars and plates, and his body loaded with chains ; he once 

 broke an iron bar an inch in diameter in two with his teeth, 

 smashed the heavy planks of his stall to splinters, and 

 would kick and scream and yell for ten minutes together 

 as though possessed by a demon. 



Knowing all this, and without a moment's hesitation, 

 Rarey accepted the challenge, and, accompanied only by 

 Lord Dorchester, proceeded to the encounter. " Whatever 

 happens, my lord," he said, " don't you speak or interfere. 

 At least, not till you see me down under his feet and him 

 worrying me." 



This compact made, he resolutely walked into the arena, 

 which consisted of a loose box divided by a half-door of 

 some four feet or more in height. Stepping quietly up to 

 it, he leaned his arm upon this barrier, so that it was just 

 covered by the iron bar that ran along the top, and looked 

 fixedly at the savage he intended to tame. Cruiser, from 

 whom muzzle, headstall, and all such impedimenta had 

 been removed by some mechanical arrangements — for 

 none dared go near enough to touch him — made his usual 

 dash to pounce on the intrepid stranger. Rarey stood 

 perfectly motionless, neither altering his attitude or ex- 

 pression in the slightest degree. 



Thinking he had his enemy by the arm, the horse seized 

 and worried the bar as if he would have bitten it through. 

 Again and again, retiring for an impetus to the farther 



