68 STABLE SECRETS. 



could not divest himself of the lurking fear of its being a 

 dream, and very ideal nothing of the brain. 



" Come, look alive ! " said Mr. James Sloper, sharply, as he 

 again seized Puffy Doddles by the arm, and conducted him, in 

 an excited manner, bordering on apparent delirium, from the 

 weighing-room. 



" Listen," said he, as they again threaded their way through 

 the crowd. 



Puffy Doddles was ready to listen, with an intensity of 

 interest far removed and beyond the ordinary powers of 

 language to describe. 



" He'll let you ride him, and nobody else to-day." 



The heart of Puffy Doddles knocked against his bosom 

 with ill-concealed pride as these words were spoken, in a tone 

 of bitter disappointment, by his employer. 



" He may run kindly for you," continued Mr. James 

 Sloper ; " and if so, all you've got to do is to sit still. D'ye 

 understand 1 " 



Puffy Doddles thought he knew, as well as any one living, 

 what sitting still was, and said so without the smallest reserva- 

 tion. 



" Catch-me-who-can," resumed Mr. James Sloper, " will 

 make the running for ye, and he'll cut it out as strong as 

 he can make it. As soon as his bolt's shot, come to the front ; 

 but recollect, not before." 



Indelible was the impression in Puffy Doddles' memory 

 that he must not come to the front previous to the shooting 

 of the particular bolt referred to. 



"Then," concluded Mr. James Sloper, bringing his lips 

 close to the nearest ear belonging to Robert Top's best lad, 

 " break their hearts." 



Such were the last words of the first order given to Puffy 

 Doddles for riding his maiden race — " Break their hearts." 



Just before the start — as the " official report " subsequently 

 declared — " there was quite a commotion in the ring. It be- 



