The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-09-30
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER Kill
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 small knoll. surmounted by
a little ciump Of Scotch FIR, stand three
men, engaged Ia earnest conversation.
Carefully shested. with stable boys on
rheir backs. some seven or eight thorough
breds pace majesticaIIy round and round
the little hillock. On the side these men
are standing. stretches considerable ex-
panse Of veivety turf-down- series of
slender white poles mark out a wide oval |
road somewhere shout mils in circum- |
ference That broad. green, ribbon-like
track is what IS termed the MAnnersley Il
Gallop. and the ground upon which Mr.
Pearman's horses take their daily exer-
else
The gentleman In the pepper-and-saIt
suit, sinzfebreasted coat. longish waist
coat and iow-crowned hat. Is Martin Py-
croft, trainer. he 6ddIes 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
enee, a bright. why, dark little man. be
looks as II bis opinion must be asked
pretty decidedly before be intends commit
ting himself on any point He is a jockey
Of some considerable eminence in bis pro-
fession- IL
Can't do any harm. Martin He might +,
Just as well have a spin with the old |.
horse as 60 his usual gaIIop."
''Well. I'd rather Mr.. Pearman wait !
till he is quite wound up before trying :
him You must do So 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 galIoped Coriander beside another
this year. We suppose him to be quite :
as good and better than he was last au-
fumn, but we've never ascertained L
mean TO know this morning"
In the meantime the string has halted, :
the sheets are removed, and then. led by =
the head lad on veteran Of four seasons !.
standing, the youngsters proceed in In =
dian file round the course at a ha1f-speed y
gallop. Then comes more walking for
twenty minutes or so. succeeded By an
other steady canfer, towards the finish Of =
which the pace is considerably improved y
the rate Of progression being always =,
by the rider Of the leading y
horse. who has, Of course, received his -
instructions from the trainer beforehand. y
More walking. then more cantering, at -
the conclusion Of which Martin Pycroft - :.
Jays quietly: - :.
Take 'em home. William, and tell he
hose boys TO bring Loadstone and Corr q,
lnder up here" ma
Merely replying. IAN right, sir" VIII r.
lam turned his horses head in the direc.
ion Of the stables.
A minute or two. and couple Of stable st
'oys walk the horses to where Pearnan. -
,ycroft and the rigid rider to orders" ~
re standing.
-Jump of and strip EN- says the ~
rainer. The boys slip off the backs Of ~
heir respective mounts, and hold them -.
y the head while Pycroft unlooses Corr =
nder's surcingle, whips of the sheets -
nth dexterous hand, and proceeds to - -
dust light racing asddle on that III ~
1uine celebrity's back. Jim, assisted By ~
carman. performs the same Office for
gladstone tho
Nov, SIR" says Martin. before we wo
. how they are together, we had bsttar fea
Ist let 'em have a quiet canter. Jim, you ira
Il up on Coriander. You, young 'un.s Ifs
continued. addressing the lad who bsd the
'en upon Loadstone, get on your own dou
,rss, and lead round nice strong can as
?, making It a little quicker from the thiz
'sh home than in the dip; but no gallop-
Z In earnest, mind" | con
Looks and moves well, sir, don't her ing
ID Martin, as Coriandsr, under Jinu's II ,
Ixfsriy hands, after two or thrs> angry my
Rtcf : ct his bit, settled down into toni