Then for a few days Langdon prepared his new horse for the Eclipse
according to his idea of Crane's idea; and Dixon rounded Lucretia to in
a manner that gladdened John Porter's heart. They knew nothing of
anything but that Lucretia was very fit, that they had Boston Bill's
jockey to ride straight and honest for them, and that with a good price
against the mare they would recoup all their losses.




VI


The day of the race when John Porter went into the betting ring he was
confronted with even money about his mare. If he had read on the ring
blackboard a notice that she was dead, he would not have been more
astonished. He fought his way back to the open of the paddock without
making a bet.

"Even money!" ejaculated Dixon when his owner told him of the ring
situation, "why, they're crazy. Who's doin' it?"

"Not the public," declared Porter, "for I was there just after the first
betting. It must be your friend Boston Bill that has forestalled us;
nobody else knew of the mare's trial."

"Not on your life, Mr. Porter; Boston plays fair. D'ye think he could
live at this game if he threw down his friends?"

"But nobody else even knew that we'd got a good boy for the mare."