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46.

had his head on the flank of Noble, his habitual position as I had feared and conjectured. Noble was using the whip and bushing. The race was over unless I could make that forgetful hear me. It was like a flash but stepping up a bar or two on the fence I cried out as they passed "It him Ike." The little rascal shouted back "I will" and gave the black one smart blow of the whip. In three strides he was ahead and at the outcome there were thirty four open feet between head and tail. The breath that he drew when struck had caused the tongue of the buckle to his ? to rip the leather on the ? and inch and a half. Three watches agreed that the black had covered the quarter of a mile in eighteen and three quarter seconds. When the cheers that went up announced the result Mr. Noble and myself were starting down the track. He took off his hat and wiping his perspiring forehead with a red bandana said "you have the fastest quarter horse in this country and I didn't know it."