The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-04-30
CHAPTER XIII.


A 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 it. At
the foot of a small knoll, s~urmounted by
a 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 a considerable ex-
panse of velvety turf-down. A series of
slender white poles mark out a wide oval
road, somewhere about a mile in circum-
ference. That broad, green, r%ibbon-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 p~epper-and-salt
suit, single-breasted coat, longish waist
coat and low-crowned hat, is Martin Py-
croft, trainer. He fddles 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, why, 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 a jockey
of some considerable eminence in his pro-
fession.
Cant do any harm, Martin. He might
just as well have a spin with the old
horse as go his Usual gallop."
"Well, I'd rather Mr.. Pearman wait
till he is quite wound up before trying
him. You must do as you please, sir.
No horse can be doing better; but contin.
ually trying does take the heart out OF
them. you know, sir"
"Of course it does: but mind, we
haven't galloped Coriander beside anothe,
this year. We suppose him to be quite
as good and better than he was last au.
tumn, but we've never ascertained.
mean to know this morning."
In the meantime the string has halted
the sheets are removed, and then. led by
the head lad on a veteran of four seasons
standing, the youngsters proceed in In.
dian file round the course at a h~alf-speeG
gallop. Then comes more walking fo,
twenty minutes or so, succeeded by an.
other steady canter, towards the finish OF
which the pace is considerably improved
the rate of progression being ALWAYS
regulated by the rider of the Ieadinc
horse, who has. of course, received hi,
instructions from the trainer beforehand
More walking, then more gathering q,
the conclusion of which Martin Pycrof,
says quietly:
take 'em home, William. and 70,
those boys to bring Loadstone and Cor;
ander up here"
Merely replying. "All right. sir" WI,
liam turned his horses head in the d;roo
ton of the stables.
A minute or two, and a couple of sta hi,
boys walk the horses to where Pe.rmon
Pycroft and "the rigid rider to orders,
are standing.
"Jump off and strip 'em," save ~,
trainer. The boys slip off the backs .
their respective mounts. and hold tbon
by the head while Pycroft unlooses Co..;
ander's surcingle, whips off the sheet
with a de%xterous hand, and proceeds r
adjust & light racing asddle on tho
equine celebrity's back. Jim. assisted h,
Pearman, performs the same Office f.
Loadstone.
snow, sir" says Martin. before w
see how they are together, we had bette
just let 'em have a quiet canter. Jim 20,
get up on Coriander. You, young 'un
he continued, addressing the lad who he
been upon Loadstone, get On your ow,
horse. and lead round a nice strong can
ter, making it a little quicker from -
bush hons than in the dip but no GA ,or
ing in earnest, mind"
Looks and moves well, sir, don't b.,
said Martin. as Coriander, under lin,
mastery hands, after two or three .n,-
matches at his bit, settled down int