Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-11

Back came the right hand, then the left; three vicious saws. and the bit was loose and Diablo's head drawn down again close to the martingale. Lucre- tia and Lauzanne were pulling to the front.
 "Go on!" called Porter to Ned Garter; "I want to see the little mare in her stride. Take them out at three-quarter gallop Town the back stretch. I'll be treading your heels off.
 By this they were opopsite the old stand, where Shandy was hiding. The boy, surmising that a gallop was on. and anxious to see them as they round ed the turn going down the back, had knocked board loose to widen the crack. As the horses came abreast, Shandy. leaning forward in his eager ness, dislodged it at the top, and it fell with a chatter, carrying him half through the opening. The wind was blowing fair across the little stand, 50 the scent of the boy came to Diablo's nostrils at the same instant the startling noise reached his nervous ears. In swerve he almost stopped, every muscle of his big body trembling in alright. Porter was nearly thrown from his seat by this crouching side step; the horse seemed to shrink from under him. Just for an instant, but the reins had Tapped loose against the wet neck and Diablo felt freedom With snort he plunged forward like wounded buck, and raced maoly after Lucretia, who had boIted when the crash came. Porter had lost stirrup in the sud- den twist, and the reins had slipped through his fingers as he grabbed the mane on Diablo's wither to pull his weight back into the saddle.
 Now the black neck was straight and taut, f1at-capped by the slim ears that lay close to the throat-latch. The thun- der, of his pounding hoofs reached to the ears of Lucretia and Lauzanne In fro1t, and urged them onward. Carter had sat down in the saddle, and taken a steadying pull at the brown mare. Even Lauzanne seemed lifted out of his usual lethargy, and, wide-mouthed, was pulling Allis out of the saddle.
 Curse the brute!" gasped Porter, burying his knees in the saddle flaps, and searching for the dangling stirrup with the toe of his right foot. Once he almost had 1t, but missed; the iron, swinging viciously, caught Diablo in the f1ank--it made little difference, his terror was complete All the time Por- ter was kneading the dangling reins back through forefnger and thumb. shortening his hold for strong pull at the saIIOping brute's head
 / ."Who-o-a-h, who-o-o-ah, stead-y!" and, bracing himself against the pummel he swung the weight of his shoulders on the reins.
 As sell might he have pulled at the rock of Gibraltar. Diablo's head was up, his teeth set hard and the mans strength was as nothing against the full muscled neck of the big horse. Di- ablo was cutting down the lead the other two held over him, galloping like a demon. Porter felt that he must loosen the bit and throw that set head down to get command of the horse. One fierce yank to the right and the black head swayed trife; another to the left and-God in heaven! the rein snapped, and its loose end came back, slashing the rider across the face. He reeled with the recoil, nearly bringing Diablo to his knees with the sudden swing of weight on the right rein. Porter's brain jerked foolishly for an instant; then he was the trained horse man again, and had let the remaining leather slip through his fingers trifle.
 GO on!'i he shouted to those in front; Ego on-give me lead Hang to the course!"
 He realized now that the crazed brute under him must run himself out. All he could do was to sit tight and wait till Diablo had raced himself to a stand still. To use the one rein meant a crash into the rail, and sure death. Be- fore, he had thought only of the horses welfare now it was 8 matter of his own life All that remained to him was to keep cool head, steady nerve and wait.
 Freed of restraint, not battled with, the blacks stride heightened, his nos trils spread wider, the hoofs pounded quicker and quicker until the earth echoed with their palpitating beat. The other horses heard the turmoil and they, too, became more afraid, and took up the mad rush. - -