How the Race was Won.

Manawatu Herald, 28 October 1893, Page 3

How the Race was Won.

" * One "day, after an exciting contest betwfen the backers of two celebrated horses* a tittle fellow with a sharp physiognomy offered to bet £20 that he could run half a mile on foot and beat any trotting horse in harness provided the driver would drink a pint of ale from the word •• Go." giving him that much start to begin witfi. The knowing ones in horse* ettfft knew there was a catch some? wHere, and nibbled at the tempting ojfgr .suspiciously. Again and ngain , TOjfjjhe little fellow called upon to , r«peat the particulars of the bot. ; The borsewise shook their heads. * At last one of them, the Solomon of the turf, thinking he saw the point, and £20 safe in his own pocket, accepted the challenge. The terms w'eru — he to sit on his machine reins in hand, the challenger to bring him a pint of ale from the neigh-, bouring tavern— good ale no mix- ! ture in an ordinary pint mug. The j litthrfeltow at the word " Go " to j hand him the mug and run. All understood, money down " Bring forth the horse " The horse was brought; "in I truth Jie was a noble steed " Solo- ] mon*Kets into the vehicle, ribbons in

,' his loft hand, find now the little f.!lo\v brings the nlo from the hvern, in -in ordinary pewte-r nni!». ! ]■'. xjiPftnlion is wrought up In lh* 1 ! high«f pitch : at Iho word "Go " ' he hands the inn? by the handle to j tho Solomon, and is oft" like a shot. All eye." wore now upon tho driver, . for there tho secret \<. Flo. lifts the tankard to his lips, pauses an in* stant, puffs off the froth, and says to his nearest friend : — i " Hill, run and got some ic-e, or ! I'm done ! This ale is as hot as ! fire \" i It is ,«ai(l tho little fellow,' after running a short distance, turned a j .somersault-, madr sundry gyratory motion-: with his thumb and fingers :at his would-be knowing rival, ran tho Inst quarter of a mile backward?, | and won. — Kxchange.