Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-09-27


course Maude used daily; but only on on
important trial did he go over the two
miles and half with the sixteen-foot
ditch and with the solid four and half
feet Of stone wall.
At the beginning Of the stretch Hugh
breasted the stone wall and made grim
ace. Here l pull up" he said. OR
maybe before; / haven't seen that last
ditch for some months, and l expect 1t
will wear strangely forbidding aspect to
me. However, / sha'n't be in sight for
the last mile, so you won't see me pull
out"
you let the old mare go along" laugh
cd Maudc, "but I'll have Charlie make
the running at the stretch. Here comes
Soames. But who's that? Oh, l say,
Hugh, how did those fellows know of the
trialY"
Up gallopcd the sheriff on Chunk, and
the long-imbcd Terry on gaunt half
bred.
"Gcntlemcn" was the sherrf's grave
salutation. "On time, are we?"
The stable boys and field hands were
thronging up, and two held each OF the
FESTIVE stccplcchascrs as their riders
mounted and started to warm them up.
Terry strobe along by Hugh.
buckingham was changing leads with
his legs, and swinging down on the bit,
and jumping into the air in pure lightncss
OF heart. Maude, hatlcss, his shirt Hat
tened against his chest, and the muscles
showing under the silk and his shining
boots thrust home in his stirrups, cant T.
ed by. "Come on, Hugh; we might as
well be off"
The sheriff was given the post of hon
or with the starters flag, and the three
horses gallopcd up. Down dropped the
flag. They're off, yelled Terry, and
tore after them.
Maude pulled in his horse to let the
cooler headed hunter under Soames lead
at the first fence, and the groom drew
away from the two thoroughbrcds and
sailed at the low jump with the ease of
long practice. Hugh's mare was little
sullen, and bucked over.
Don't let her play the fool. Use your
spurs! Dig 'cm into hcr!' called the Eng
lishman. eco ahead after the next
jump" he cried, taking another pull on
buckingham.
Darlington thrust his spurs into the
mares sides and pushed after the groom,
gaining on him easily. Hep asscd him,
and the post-and-raiI doomed up high
as a barn in front of him. Buckingham
was close behind, running in big, boInd-
ing strides, working off some of his eX-
uberancc his head tossing high ut each
jump. Darlington had a curious, help
less sensation at realizing that the mares
fast pace was a mere cantcr for the
horse. He shut his eyes as she rose at
the fence and opened them to find her la
boring gamcly through the fallow land,
Buckingham's head at her quarter. He
looked back and saw the game hunter
rising like a bird at the fence. He was
the equal of his competitors at n jump,
if they were faster on the fiat.
Darlington called on the mare for fresh
effort; she responded, and side by side he
and Maude rode for the next mile, TAX
ing the fences and bitches together.
"Buckingham's beginning to get into
his stride" Maudc cried rs they flew n
ditch LET the old mare come along.
Sit down and ride"
Hugh began to use his whip. Maude
still kept tight pull on the chestnut's
bit, for he was beginning to fret at not
shaking off his outclasscd opponent A
quarter of a mile from the big ditch,
Hugh felt that his mare was done, as
Buckingham drew away from her and
she failed to respond. He pulled her
out Of the course and cantcred obliQuely
across the hill to the finish. He saw
Maudc begin to urge Buckingham for the
first time, as he came towards the ditch
Faster and faster went the chestnut, and
with mighty leap, was over and headed
for the stone wall half mile away
around the base of the hill.
ely at water and check for timber"
Hugh remembered the rule as he saw
Buckingham's strides shortening towards
the end of the half-mile Beyond the wall
Charlie, in an agony of suspense, was re-
strainng his bounding two-ycar-old and
keeping his eyes glued on Maude's blow
ing shirt.
"Now, old chap, once morer' cried
Maudc, gripping more tightly with his
knees. STEADY! steady! Over she goes!
Now. Charlie, come along" he yelled at
the negro boy, who turned his tilly loose
down the stretch. 1t was neck and neck
for the quarter but Buckingham, even
after two miles, had no idea Of being
beaten by a twoycar-old filly, and, max
by neck.
As they passed the finish, Maude drop
ped his eyes to the watch on his wrist and
smiled. mot bad" he said to Hugh,
when he cantercd up alongside; "but we
didn't get into the pace soon enough. You
were too afraid OF your neck. All right,
boys; take him away and he dismount-
ed.
"Nhcn is the race, Mr.. Maude| the
sheriff asked, taking out pencil and pa
per. I'm going to risk little on it.
| don't believe that horse can be beaten"
he added, gravely.
IF Chunky couldn't beat him, no horse
can" laughed Terry; "but l don't mind
specializing little myself. Wire us the
odds, will you, Maude? Henry wants
to know 'em, too" And they rode off.
The horses were loaded on the car be-
fore dark, and Maude returned to the
house TO pack his trunk. Hugh assisted
A. L. , 1. 10