I90 Too Clever 



— not that there is much to see in a start for a race over 

 this distance — and trot across in plenty of time to see 

 the finish also. Weekes's handkerchief was raised and 

 dropped to send them on their ^Yay, and immediately 

 Past Master jumped iuto his bridle and set off at a 

 cracking pace. 



' They are going very fast,' Dane observed, as the 

 leader sped on a couple of lengths in advance of the two 

 mares, at whose quarters the two-year-old was racing. 

 Past Master increased his lead to a good four lengths 

 when they had almost reached the end of the first mile, 

 still going within himself; but a couple of furlongs further, 

 he w^as being driven to keep him in front, and here he 

 rapidly compounded, leaving the mares to go on neck 

 and neck, the two-year-old now a couple of lengths 

 behind. At the end of the second mile the youngster 

 was pulled up — the boy had been told not to ride him 

 out, and he and Past Master cantered on in the rear. 

 Smeuse was now in front, leading half a length or so, 

 but she was begmning to labour in her stride, and in 

 another moment her rider took up his whip. Brown 

 Shoes still galloping at her ease. A furlong from home 

 Moss's mare was being hard ridden, but she could not 

 keep her place. With scarcely an effort Brown Shoes 

 overhauled her, and, the other being ridden out, passed 

 the improvised winning-post three lengths to the good. 



Moss was the first to speak, as they trotted on to 

 where the two mares were pulling up. 



' Well, the Cesarewitch is over ! ' he exclaimed. ' My 

 mare would be a certainty at 6 st. 3 lb. — or a bit more. 

 I congratulate j^ou, Dane — it's a real good thing for you.' 



' Yes, sir ; your mare stays so well and has a turn 

 of speed to finish with when she is not quite beaten,' 



