The Darley Arabian. 2 1 3 



Canezou when she arrived in from eiackiock 

 Pigburn to meet Surplice, attracted a 

 IdirgQr posse comitatus than any Sheriff of the County 

 ever summoned ; but still the High Street of Doncas- 

 ter was never in such a flutter as when Blacklock 

 walked up it in 18 17, distinguished from the rest of 

 Sykes's string by a complete set of oilskin clothing. 

 Discussion rose high among the Yorkshiremen as to 

 his merits. Some would have it he was a great ugly 

 beast, and others that he was the finest they ever saw. 

 There was, however, no difference of opinion when he 

 had galloped on the Moor, and certainly never did 

 horse deserve so thoroughly to win. Nothing but 

 Sykes's over anxiety prevented it. His orders to 

 Jackson were " to look oot for me at the distance, and 

 111 tell you what to do." Amid the clatter of eighteen 

 horses and the many-headed multitude all " Blacklock- 

 iiig^' it was a wonder that he could make himself 

 heard by Jackson, but he unfortunately did, and " Pull 

 till 'ei)i, John ; pull till 'em ; thoo hast it all thee own 

 way',' were his words, which unfortunately fell on Bob 

 Johnson's ear as well. Bob was not usually very leery, 

 but he immediately pulled Ebor quite wide, in order 

 that Jackson, who was busy watching Ben Smith on 

 Restless, next the rails, might not see him so readily, 

 and then snapped him on the post. Jackson always 

 owed Sykes a grudge for this, and his happiness was 

 complete when after making all the running on Theo- 

 dore and defeating horse after horse, he at last saw 

 Muta, as he peeped under his shoulder, get her head 

 up to his boots, and then change legs and disappear. 

 Oddly enough, he would not have been on Theodore 

 that day if Mr. Petre had not seen him a little " cut" 

 opposite the Betting Rooms, the night before, and 

 thought that if that was his Doncaster game, he would 

 only give him the worst of his mounts next day. 



Mr Moss wanted Mr. Reed to buy eiackiocks Sons 

 Blacklock, but he " dare not venture on 



