Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-09-18
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 crackle of frost In 1t. At
the foot of a small knoll, surmounted by
q 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 wide oval
road, somewhere about a 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 Ply.
croft trainer. He fiddles with the ash
plant In his hand, and seems rather tc
demur to something that his companion
Sam Pearman-seems to insist on.
As for the third member of the confer
tuCey ultBuls WHY vain h1tic man. he
looks as II 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. lie might
Just as we'll have a spin with the ole
horse as 90 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 1t does: but mind, W,
haven't galloped Coriander beside another
this year. We suppose him to be quit,
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 b,
the head lad on a veteran of four seasons
standing, the youngsters proceed in In
dian file round the course at half-speet
Kallop. Then comes more walking fol
twenty minutes or so, succeeded by an
other steady canter, towards the finish o
which the pace Is considerably improves
the rate OF progression being Away,
regulated by the rider Of the leadin,
horse, who has, Of course, received hi
instructions from the trainer beforehand
More walking, then more cantering, a
the conclusion Of which Martin Pycrof
says quietly:
Take 'em home, William, and tel
those boys TO bring Loadstons and Corr
snder up here"
Merely replying, "All right, SIR" WI
liam turned his horses head In the direc
ton of the stables.
A minute or two, and couple Of stabl
boys walk the horses TO where Pearman
Pycroft and 'the rigid rider to orders
are standing.
Jump off and strip EN-" says tn
trainer. The boys slip of the backs o
their respective mounts, and hold then
by the head while Pycroft unlooses Corr
ander's surcingle, whips off the sheet
with dexterous hand. and proceeds {
adjust light racing asddle on tina
equine celebrity's back. Jim. assisted b
Pearman, performs the same office 70
Joadstone. ~
Nov, sir" says Martin, before W
see how they are together, we had bette
Just let 'em have quiet canter. Jim, 20
get up on Coriander. You, young I'm.
he continued, addressing the lad who hs
been upon Loadstone, get on your ow
horse, and lead round a nice strong car
ter, making 1t a little quicker from Ii
bush home than in the dip; but no gallon
ing In earnest, mind"
sLooks and moves well, sir. don't be
said Martin, as Coriander, under Jim
mastery hands, after two or thrss angr
snatches at his bit, settled down mi
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