Bred In The Bone Part 6

But the brown's rider pulled his horse around, came by on the outside, and drew up to the flank of the first horse. He was gaining so fast that the crowd burst into shouts, some cheering on the leader, some the great brown which had made such a race.

The boxes were a babel. Everyone was on his feet.

"The yellow 's gaining!"

"No; the blue 's safe."

"Orange may get it," said Colonel Ashland. "He 's the best horse, and well ridden."

He was up to the bay's flank. Whip and spur were going as the leader saw his danger.

Old Robin was like a madman.

"Come on! Come on!" he shouted. "Give him de whip--cut him in two--lift him! Look at him--my hoss! Come on, son! Oh, ef my ol' master was jest heah!"

A great roar ran along the fences and over the paddock and stands as the two horses shot in together.

"Oh, he has won, he has won!" cried the girl in the big hat, springing up on a chair in ecstasy.

"No; it 's the blue by a neck," said her father. "I congratulate you, Snowden. But that 's a great horse. It 's well that it was not a furlong farther."

"I think so," said the owner of the winner, hurrying away.

"They have cheated him. I am sure he won," a.s.serted the young lady.

They laughed at her enthusiasm.

"Newby," said one of the gentlemen, "you 'd better get Miss Catherine to pick your horses for you." Newby winced.

"Oh, it 's easy!" said the girl, nonchalantly, "Bone and muscle--and a green country boy--with a pedigree."

IV

As Johnston was leading his horse away, the gentleman who had fallen at the water-jump came up to him.

"I want to thank you," he said. "I saw you pull him around."

"I was afraid I 'd strike you," said the other, simply.

Just then two gentlemen pushed through the crowd. One was Mr. Newby.

"Are you the owner of this horse!" he asked the young man.

"Yes, sir." He spoke with pride.

"Dat he is de owner," put in old Robin, who had the bridle, "an' he owns a good hoss! He got de ambition."

"Want to sell him?"

"Um-um-hm--d' n' know. I came on to sell him."

"Don't you sell him. Don't you never sell him," urged the old trainer.

"Keep him, an' le' me handle him for you. You 'll git mo' 'n second money next time."

"I 'll give you a thousand dollars for him. What do you say?"

Old Robin gave an exclamation.

"A thousand dollars! For dis hoss!"

The gentleman's friend broke in:

"Oh, come, Newby, don't rob the boy. He 'll give you two thousand," he laughed.

They were examining the horse as he walked along under his blanket.

"Two thousand?" The boy was hesitating. It was a great sum to him.

"No; but I 'll split the difference," said Mr. Newby: "I 'll give you fifteen hundred for him if he is as good as I think him when I look him over. What 's his name?"

"Jefferson Davis."

"Oh, the devil! I 'll change his name pretty quickly."

"No, you won't," said the boy.

"Won't I? I 'll show you when I get him," he muttered. "Well, what do you say?"

"Will you promise not to change his name?"

The other laughed.

"Not much! When I buy him he 's my horse."

"He 'll never be your horse."

"What?"

"He 's not for sale." He turned away.

"Oh, nonsense! Here; wait----"

"I would not sell him to you, sir, at any price. Good-morning." He moved on.

"You 've lost a good horse," said his friend.