Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 152 — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee ge —— ‘ i o--——- of prudence, Pete led the horse to the stables, still muttering to himself, But we musi make a step forward in time, to the date of the great event which had been the talk of sportsmen for a month past—the steeple-chase, which was looked for the last week in September. The place selected for this race was the broad sweep of meadows, which border the Delaware for miles below the mouth of the Schuylkill, and which, with their frequent ditches, fences and embank- ments, afford all the difficulty and danger necessary to this peculiar sort of race. They are, besides, uncultivated, being used only for grass, so that there were no fields of ripe corn, or other late crops, to be trampled down, and no obstruction to the view over the whole broad mea- dow bottom. The place of the meet was at the White Horse, a roadside inn, several miles south of Darby, the start- mz point of the race being a half-mile eastward from the hostelry, and beyond the line of the rail- read to Baltimore, which here runs at no great dis- tance from the river. It was a fresh autumnal morning, with a bite in the air which showed that summer had definitel assed, though the sun shone as brightly asin mid- ugust. A group of horsemen had already gathered in front of the White Horse, and was being rapidly added to as horsemen and carriages successively ar- rived, there being a good show of ladies among those eccupying the various elegant vehicles which lent such an unusual air of bustle to that quiet locality. The house swarmed with people, yielding the ho- tel folks as much employment as they could conve- niently attend to. In front the small group which had gathered early was rapidly increased and ex- tended by other groups of excitedly talking individ- uals, each as eager concerning the race as if he had his whole fortune staked upon the event. Of our own special friends the only one yet present was Pierce Browning, who had ridden up on a power- ful horse, but who now had taken his favorite position, in a chair tilted back on the hotel porch, where he was surrounded by a small knot of persons to whom Pierce’s words were oracles. * There promises to bea perfect beehive of folks,” he said, looking over the gathering throng. “ But I'll swear that I haven’t seen a half-dozen horses that look to have the spring for thig>sort of work; ani I’ve been all through the stables. Ha! there's Will Wildfire now; and mounted on a sorry nag that couldn’t leap a mud-puddle, let alone an eight foot ditch. He’s not booked for the race, that’s certain, with such an animal to carry him. Hallo! Will; where did you pick up your antediluvian?”’ ‘‘ Nabbed him just.as he was leaving the ark,”’ re- plied Will, as he joined the group of Pierce’s satellites. ‘I didn’t buy him for beauty, you can bet, but for his concealed virtves.”’ ‘** Hidden so deep that they will never make their way to the surface, I fear,”’ responded Pierce. “Just wait. Power and beauty are not always linked together. By Jupiter, there’s a fine crowd promised! And a good sprinkling of ladies to give tone to the occasion.” ‘* Yonder comes one that you should be interested in,’’ said Pierce quietly, pay 2 toa lady who had just ridden up on a jet-black horse, Will looked quickly round, and recognized Clara Moreland, sitting her noble animal with a grace that eontrasted favorably with many of those around her, while her beauty was doubly enhanced by the fine color gained by her brisk ride in the sharp September air. ithout replying to his friend Will sprung from the porch and hastened to the fair equestrienne, fol- towed by a quiet smile from Pierce. ‘*So you have changed your mind,” he said, stand- ng at her bridle hand. ‘* You are going to ride.”’ ‘Hardly,’ she replied, ‘‘ or I would not have given Selim a trot in advance. I wish simply to escape with honor from the unpleasant position in which I have been placed.” “Oh! Selim is good for a burst yet,”’ said Will, patting the glossy mane of the animal. “But he will not carry me,” was her decisive answer. ‘There are some ladies to ride, I am told; but I certainly do not intend to be one of them, You remember what you promised?” “Yes, yes,” replied Will, hastily. ‘‘I must con- fess, I would have liked to see you ride. But if you are set against it, trust to me. I will contrive some means of getting you out of the difficulty without a square back-down.”’ I shall depend upon you. But why are they stopping here? Itis near the time for the race.’ Wait till I get my horse. I will accompany you to the field.” . In five minutes more Will and his fair friend were riding toward the starting point of the steeple-chase, to Aga a stream of horses and carriages had now set in, CHAPTER IV. THE STEEPLE-CHASE. A sprEcrAL train from the city had brought down several hundreds of peone to the scene of the race. Also from the neighboring towns of Chester and Darby, and from the country for miles around, spectators had gathered, so that the ground present- ed an animated appearance before the cavalcade of horsemen and the ong line of carriages came to add a new life to the scene. Most of the horses entered for the race had been in the stables of the White Horse Inn since the preceding day, though some few had been brought over since morning. The repressed excitement of the throng broke out into a cheer of wild enthusiasm, as these animals were now ridden into the field. There were eighteen of them in all, many of them beautifully formed and finely groomed animals. Fox hunting had been long a favorite amusement in this part of the coun- try, and horses trained to leap were far from rare. And their riders looked like perfect dare-devils to whom the worst dangers of a steeple-chase would be but sport. They were attired in full sporting cos- tume, and formed a gallant display as they curbed their restive horses, and waited impatiently for the hour of the start. But what was the surprise of those to whom he was known to see Pierce Browning ride forward and take his place in the line of contestants. He had changed his hat for a close-fitting jockey cap, a blue sash encircled his waist, while his short, ti htly- buttoned coat was bottle green in color. The horse he bestrode was a mighty bay, of gigantic pattern as himself, and with a look about him that told experienced horsemen that he was not going to be the last at the goal. But Pierce wore his old easy look, as if the event of the race was a matter in which he had not the slightest concern. He lounged on his horse as he usually lounged on a chair. ‘*Oh, yes!” he said toa friend who attempted to break a jest upon him. “I just want to see the af- fair through. There is no fun in watching only the start or the close. I thought I would ride along and see it out,”’ ‘* You don’t expect to take that elephant through?” ‘*Maybe not. Yes, Tll take a cigar. Have you ot a light? There, that’s more comfortable. By e way, how much was it you said you would stake against the elephant?” ‘*T have no recollection of offering any bet,’’ was the laughing rejoinder. ‘‘ But I wouldn’t mind lay- ing two to one that you don’t come in fourth best.” ‘Done! for a cool hundred,” responded Pierce, reaching out his hand in acknowledgment of the bet. It was with some surprise that Will Wildfire had seen his huge friend ride into the line of contestants. He was about moving forward to speak to him when he was arrested by an exclamation from Clara Moreland. ‘* It cannot be possible!’’ she cried. **What?” asked Will, turning oo back. ‘*Do you not see? Yonder. It is Mark Preston! He has joined the line of racers!” . An exclamation of astonishment broke from Will’s ips. ‘“He! Why, he is no rider.” “Yes, he is. He rides well. I have seen him lead the field in a fox-chase, and take every fence in his way. And his horse is a good one. It cannot beat Selim, however.”’ “Then why not ride yourself, and distance him in this, as you have in other close races?” A new look came into Clara’s face. Her feeling toward Mark Preston had deepened until it had be- come a sentiment of hatred. Why should she not ride, if but to vanquish him? here were three ladies already in the line. Her horse had been en- tered. She had leaped Selim over greater obstacles than they were likely to meet. “Her lip curled de- cisively as she turned to Will. ‘**T will ride,” she said. “Bravo!” he responded Bayly. “ Beat him, and I will be your debtor. I will not be far behind you.” ‘What, on that horse?’’ she asked, with a glance of contempt at Will’s mount. “Don’t despise that horse. He is a rough dia- mond. Ido not expect to carry the field with him, itis true. But I will not be last.” ** You are not entered, though.” “Tris not too late for that,” replied Will, as he rode away. A half hour passed, the line of contestants had now somewhat extended. There were twenty-five in all that broke from the start at the word. A shout that made the air ring arose from the throng of pee gh as the cavalcade of animals, in a line as straight as that of a dragoon os burst into oie sng and darted across the firm, short-grassed meadow, which formed the opening ground of the ra ce. But hardly for a minuté was this neat line pre- served. Some lagged, some darted ahead, almost from the start, while others turned toward what they deemed the most favorable spot to cross the first obstruction, a fence of medium hight, several hundred yards away. Pierce Browning rode, indeed, as if he had no personal interest in the event. He held his horse at an easy canter, seeming to be quite careless that half the field were already well in advance of him. Tt was not so with Mark Preston. He shoved his horse from the start, with a nervous eagerness that was not likely to be favorable to his final success. As for Clara Moreland, she had set out side by side with the other lady contestants. But her lip curved with quiet energy as she saw Mark Preston in the front rank of the race. “Who follows me?” she cried, pointing forward wae her whip. “Yonder is the man I am racing v ade A loosening of the rein, a touch of her white hand | on Selim’s neck, and the noble animal darted for- ward like an arrow, reaching the fence almost side by side with her foe. A new shout rose from the lookers-on as they saw the noble black with his graceful rider, dart like a leopard across the fence side by side with Mark, who took it with equal ease. Black Bess, Will Wildfire’s Racer. % ‘*Don’t push him so on the start. You will break his spirit before the distance is half made.”’ **T thought you knew Selim better,” was all her reply, as she patted the glossy mane of the noble animal, that bounded forward with such long and a! strides beneath her. ark Preston, too, looked around. His eyes kin- dled with a sinister light as he perceived his enemy, and caught the signs of an understanding between him and Clara Moreland. “Yonder!” he cried, in an excited tone, pointing forward to a wide ditch not far in advance. “You have made the fence. Now for the ditch!” _ Will gave a short laugh. He had no idea of enter- ing into emulation with his men But it was not so with Clara. Her blood was fully up, and she, too, pointed to the ditch, exclaiming: ** If you dare!”’ ‘*] will dare more than that before I am done with ou,”’ muttered the villain, as he turned his horse ull on at the leap. His keen eye had noticed a point of advantage not observed by his fair contestant. The ditch was of unequal widtb, and the spot at which she had head- ed was some two or three feet wider than that cho- sen by her shrewd antagonist. Will, who caught sight of her error just as she headed at the ditch, was on the point of giving a warning ery, but he restrained himself and looked in mute admiration at the gallant stride with which she brought Selim up to the dangerous leap. Mark Preston was already over, and he looked back with an air of triumph just as the noble black reached the bank of the broad spread of water. But there was not an instant’s hesita‘ion. Selim rose as lightly and gracefully as a bird, darted like an arrow through the air, and lighted safely on the other side, though his hind hoofs sent a shower of dirt rattling into the muddy stream. “Bravo!” cried Will, as he took the narrower passage which Mark Preston had chosen. But we must go back to see what bas become of Pierce Browning. There was a loud laugh from the lookers-on as the giant rode quietly up to the fence, pulled up his horse, and stood looking at it as if not quite sure whether it was worth his while to attempt aleap. Most of the riders were already across, but the horse of one of them had balked close by where Pierce stood surveying the obstacle. His eager neighbor sprung to the ground, pulled a bar or two hastily from the fence, and began again to mount his horse. ‘Thank you,” said Pierce, turning the head of his great steed in that direction, and vaulting over the rail or two left in the panel. “I'll do as much for you at the next,” At the ditch he had still better luck. He struck it at a point where a slight bridge crossed it, over which the great horse went at a ringing gallop. For some distance now there was an oom way. The broad meadow extended without a break in its smooth expanse. And over its green surface the crowd of racing animals darted, But they were far from preserving the even line of their start. On the contrary a good two-hundred yards separated the leading from the rear horses; while they were ex- tended still more in width, On the road that ran parallel to the racing grounds was Visible a long line of horsemen and carriages, driving rapidly forward, eager to follow the hotly- contested race to its close. A few more trifling obstacles and the first mile of the race was covered. Of those who had started nearly one-half were already out of the race, so far as any chance of winning rested. They had all managed to the first fence, but the succeeding ditch had proved a greater obstacle. The fact is, that horses which will easily stride sixteen feet over a high fence, will balk at a ditch not half that width, they being usually timid about water until trained to it, Three or four horses had obstinately refused to leap, and another had fallen and thrown his rider, putting him effectually out of therace. Of the ladies who had started but one remained in the race be- sides Clara Moreland. She continued in the first line of racers, close be- side Mark Preston, whose every movement she watched with a lip that curled wit scorn and deter- mination, The fair Clara’s blood was up, and her foe was likely to find it no easy matter to distance her in the race. As for Will Wildfire his oe pres | nag had done unexpected service. He had, it is true, sought easy ane ne to cross the obstacles in his way, but yet he ad managed to keep at no great distance behind the leading line of contestants, He rode in an easy oe pa as - he ge ~ personal on a et sent only as a sort of rear to his fair friend. x =. Pierce Browning rode his great horse with the same careless ease as at the start, though it was noticed that he had made the last few leaps with a readiness that no one had expected. People began to think that there might be more in the horse than they had suspected, He was lagging considerably behind, it is true, but the animal seemed as fresh as if just from the stable. He had not warmed up to his work yet. ‘* Here’s fun!” cried the nearest neighbor of Pierce, pointing forward with his ridin view “What! that low hedge? Why they are making nothing of it.” . “No; but there is a heavy plowed field beyond, Some of them are having a deuce of a drag to get through it. And there goes Joe Elliott! Down on his nose for a thousand. I hope his horse hasn't She looked back with a feeling of involuntary | broke his neck.” dread for Will Wildfire. She was afraid his un- AN ta tg nag would hang fire at the start. ut no. There he rode easily along not far behind her. He cried out warningly: ‘The horse is all right,”’ replied Pierce. “T fancy your animal will have a job yonder. He has too much weight for plowed ground,”’ * We shall see,” remarked Pierce, a smile curling “S EGomiGcvoe (EO)