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32 the horse-laugh at John Spring's expense was soon suppressed; for as soon as Dart and Lightning began to breathe more freely, it was observed that both of them walked deliberately to the track of the race ground, and putting their heads to the earth, suddenly raised them and began to snort. John Spring said "the horses have discovered something strange; they suspect foul play. Let me go and talk with Lightning." He went to Lightning and took hold of his mane, and Lightning put his nose to the ground and smelt of the earth without touching it, and then reared his head very high and snorted so loudly that the sound echoed from the next hill. Dart did the same. Spring stooped down to examine the spot. In a second he raised himself up, and the countenance of the man was changed; his strength failed him, and he sidled against Lightning. When he recovered he exclaimed "it was an ox! I told you it was an ox. No real horse could beat Lightning." And now on a close inspection of the black horse's tracks in the path, it was evident to every one that the fore feet were cloven. Notwithstanding these appearances,