th-gasp her heart
fluttered in its beat. As quickly she put the fear from her, and
swinging Lauzanne a shade wide, left Diablo more room next the rail.

"On, Lauzanne!" she called through drawn lips; and hitched encouragingly
in the saddle.

Lucretia was still in front, her speed mocking at the swift rush of
Lauzanne and Diablo. But how the Black galloped! Every post saw him
creeping up on the Chestnut, and Allis riding and nursing him to keep
the runaway hemmed in at the turns, so that he could not crash through
the outer rail. No one spoke again. Each knew that nothing was left to
do but keep Diablo to the course, and ride, ride.

Just in front of Lauzanne, with swinging stride raced the brown mare,
waiting till the Chestnut should drop back beaten, to take up the
running with Diablo. That was Carter's good judgment; and he rode as
though it were the Derby, and he was nursing his mount for the last call
at the finish.

At the three quarters Lauzanne and Diablo were neck and neck; at the
half, the Black was lapped on Lucretia; another furlong and she was
laboring to keep her place, nose and nose with him.

"I'm done," panted Carter, feeling the mare swerve and falter; "I'm
done--God help us!"

Still there was no check in the Black's gallop; he was like a devil that
could go on forever and ever.

They had turned into the straight with Lucretia a neck to the bad, when
Carter heard the girl's voice faintly calling, "Pull out, Ned!" The
boy thought it fancy. Lauzanne the Despised couldn't be there at their
heels. He had thought him beaten off long ago. But again the voice came,
a little stronger, "Pull out, Ned!"

This time there was no mistake. It might be a miracle, but it was
his duty to obey. As he galloped, Carter edged Lucretia to the right.
Without looking back he could feel Lauzanne creeping up between him and
Diablo. Soon the Chestnut's head showed past his elbow, and they were
both lapped on the Black. Halfway up the stretch Allis was riding
stirrup to stirrup with her father. Porter's weight was telling on
Diablo.

"She's got him. Lauzanne'll hold him if he doesn't quit," Carter
muttered, as he dropped back, for Lucretia was blown.

Past the finish post Lauzanne was a head in front, and Diablo was
galloping like a tired horse.

"He's beat!" ejaculated Carter. "Hello! that's it, eh? My word, what a
girl!"

He saw Allis reach down for the slack rein running from her father's
hand to Diablo's mouth