in to the fence, and for a moment there was danger of the two
horses coming down together.

At the sight old Robin gave a cry.

"Look at him! Runnin' my hoss in de fence! Cut him down! Cut him down!"

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," asserted 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 hi