The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-11-16

Snort had rather the appearance Of carcles.
training. Some said that the grass wasn't
out Of him yet, while others shrewdly suspec-
ted that he was bite. The fact that he was
In the hands Of Jacob. gave no little conf.
dence to his hackers; for Jacob had helped
to train a mighty fast nag, in 81, known in
the Piney Woods as the Flying Squirrel. .
And IN fact that he had trained great many
nags, always running good race. even if he
didn't win.
Some ofthc hackers Of old Snort, who had
great confidence in him, and knew that lie was
very apt to acin if he started, had thei- mis-.
givings on the yab5it question. We had had
several frosts, and they know that the rabbits
we're apt to run a good deal after frost.
However, the betting soon closed, and the
track was cleared. At 10 o'clock precisely,
the drum tapped, and away they went down The
quarter stretch 10 Oakland. Both got off IN
fine style-Old Snort in the lead, Brew trying
toget the reins arranged so that they would
pull together in passing the quarter stand
Bird held Walk-in-thc-water hard. gradually
gathering the reins up so as to show as much
it not more Of the Union stripe near the BIZ
as Of the black part, in passing the quarter
Both riders displayed cOnsummate skill in The
management Of the reins in dropping, gath
ering up, and Stacking out Brew soon got
the hang Of his bride, so that he could drop
one rein and pull altogether on the other,
whenever It was best to do so. As Bird had
but one rein, bis task was prehaps the more
difficult. Near the halfway point lie was oh.
served 20 let all the slack out ofhis rein. hold
ing it high up in the air. and dexterously con-
cealing the Union stripe under Walk-in-the-
waters name. The Stacking Of the rein at
tlss point, aud an encouraging neigh from an
old racer for some years retired from the turf,
gave Walk.in-the-water tremendous 6ukge.
in which be passed Old Snort-Brid barely
having time to get his bride rein gathered up
so as to show leetie'thc most Of the stripes
near the turning point Brew was prepared
for the dash, and expec.ed to be passed, con-
fdent that before r'aching the s'enl. OIL
Snort would take him down. But in this he
was disappointed. Although be managed his
reins we'll, and had them Fixed exactly right,
Walk-in-the-water widened the gap. and pass
ed the pole 10 lengths ahead.
Soon the Jefferson line was crossed, and
they were on the back stretch. Walk-in.the-
water now moving at a killing pace, and Old
Snort driving on at pretty fair rate But
here the fears Of few Of Old Snort's friends
at the start began to be realized as be ap-
preached Rodney, the rabbits sure enough.
commenced crossing the track; and Old Snort,
pricking bis ears and looking anxiously for
ward, showed strong signs Of fdisposition to stop
make his cross, and turn back. But Brew
resolutely struck the spurs in. and kept him up
to his work. As they swept on. the rabbits grew
thicker and thicker; and. but for the difficulty
which the rider of Walk-in.the-water had a
Coles Creek Old Snort would have been out
Of hearing At Coles Creek Walk-in-the-wa-
ter true to his instinct took sheer on Brid---
leaving the track and running full tilt right
up the centre Of the Creek. This difficulty,
however, had been Anticipated. and was pre-
pared for. Not far above the ford. there stood
on the bank Of the Creek, George and How
ell two hard old trainers.
These veterans were bred on the turf and
familiar with all the advantages to be taken,
and the difficulties to be encountered in
race They had made private trial strains Of
over some Of the private
quarter stretchers in jefferson, and knew his /
weak points as well as his strong ones. They
knew that about midday they would hear
terrible splattering up Cols's Creek, and 50
prepared for it. George held out in full view |
a blood-red banner, on which was painted in
large letters. "Secession -" Death to Foote." "
On Howells banner was painted /" The damd-
est Wing sooner than Union Democrat :"
At the sight Of these banners, Walk-in-the-
water showed strong signs Of getting back
into the track, and without being guided-for
Bird had pulled at him till exhausted, and
could not guide him-he struck across the
stream
aThe torrent roar'd and he did buffet it,
With lusty sinews throwing II aside :,
And stemming il with heart Of controversy
aud needless of the steep ascent Of the shore,
be bounded up,
aWith glossy skin and dripping name"
and soon regained the track--nonc the worse
FOR the cooling of, but not as far ahead OF
Old Snort. Il seems that one Dobin, famous
or bis pooy neighbors, and love Of the mar
relIous, feeling an interest in Old Snort, had
+, = IL :. ...o.,h a1out, fhn Track of rabbits