Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-06-03
CHAPTER XIII.


little after six In the morning. The
April sun has just succeeded in breaking
through the morning mist, and the air
still has a crackle Of frost in 1t. At
the foot Of small knoll, surmounted by
little clump of Scotch fir, stand three
men, engaged In earnest conversation.
Carefully sheeted, with stable boys on
their backs, some seven or eight thorough
breds pace majestically round and round
the little hillock. On the side these men
are standing, stretches considerable ex-
panse OF velvety turf-down. A series of
slender white poles mark out wide oval
road, somewhere about mile In circum-
ference. That broad, green, ribbon-like
track Is what Is termed the Mannersley
Gallop, and the ground upon which Mr..
Pearman's horses take their daily exer-
else.
The gentleman In the pepper-and-salt
suit, single-breasted coat, longish waist
coat and low-crowned hat, is Martin Py-
croft, trainer. He fiddles with the ash
plant In his hand, and seems rather to
demur to something that his companion
Sam Pearman-seems to insist on.
AS for the third member of the confer
ence, a bright, wiry, dark little man, he
looks as If his opinion must be asked
pretty decidedly before he intends commit
ting himself on any point. He is jockey
OF some considerable eminence In his pro
fession.
Cant do any harm, Martin. He might
Just as well have spin with the old
horse as go his usual gallop."
well, I'd rather Mr.. Pearman wait
I'll he is quite wound up before trying
MIN. You must do as you please, sir.
No horse can be doing better; but contin-
naily trying does take the heart out of
them, you know, sir"
OF course 1t does; but mind, we
haven't galloped Coriander beside another
rhs year. We suppose him to be quite
as good and better than he was last au-
tumn, but we've never ascertained. 1
mean to know this morning."
In the meantime the string has halted,
the sheets are removed, and then, led by
tne head lad on veteran Of four seasons
standing, the youngsters proceed in In
dian file round the course at a half-speed
gailop. Then comes more walking for
twenty minutes or 30, succeeded by an
other steady canter, towards the finish of
wnlch the pace Is considerably improved
the rate Of progression being always
regulated by the rider Of the leading
aorse who has, Of course, received his
instructions from the trainer beforehand.
More walking, then more cantering, at
tne conclusion of which Martin Pycroft
says quietly:
Take 'em home, William, and tell
tnose boys to bring Loadstone and Cori-
ander up here"
Merely replying, "All right, sir" Will
nam turned his horses head In the direc-
uon OF the stables.
minute or two, and couple of stable
Boys walk the horses to where Pearman.
Fycroft and "the rigid rider to orders
are standing.
Jump off and strip 'em," says the
Trainer The boys slip off the backs of
,neir respective mounts, and hold them
ny the head while Pycroft unlooses Cori-
ander's surcingle, whips off the sheets
WIN WIN dexterous hand, and proceeds to
auJast light racing asddle on that
Ssuine celebrity's back. Jim, assisted by
Loadstone. ' ~ "
NOW, sir" says Martin, ''before we
see now they are together, we had better
Just Jus let EN- have quiet canter. Jim, you
IS se' up on Coriander. You, young 'un,"
he.s continued, addressing the lad who had
Ses een upon Loadstone, 'get on your own
-" Se and lead round nice strong can
Ill t, making 1t little quicker from the
;ns usn nome than in the dip; but no gallop-
ing In earnest mind"
s.,s LOOKS and moves well, sir, don't he?"
Sasa msu Martin, as Coriander, under Jim's
sn..y erly hands, after two or three angry
'enes at his bit, settled down into