"You know dat ain't my horse!" said the old man, sharply. "You young
boys is gittin' too free with you' moufs! Dat horse----"

The rest of his speech, however, was lost; for at that moment the
horseman turned from the highway into the road to the race-course and
came swinging on toward the gate. The gang behind old Robin broke into
renewed jeers, but at the same time kept well out of his reach; for the
old man's face bore a look that no one dared trifle with, and he had a
heavy hand on occasion, as many of them had come to know. His eyes now
were fastened on the horse that was rapidly approaching through a cloud
of dust on the yellow road, and a look of wonder was growing on his
brown face.

The rider pulled rein and drew up just outside the open gate, looking
down on the group there in some bewilderment Then his eyes lighted up,
as the old trainer stepped out and, taking off his hat, put forth his
hand.

"Uncle Robin!"

"My young master." He took the bridle just as he might have done years
before had his old master ridden up to the gate.

The act impressed the gang behind him as few things could have done,
and though they nudged one another, they fell back and huddled together
rather farther away, and only whispered their ridicule among themselves.

The boy sprang from the saddle, and the old man took possession of the
horse.

They were a strange-looking pair, horse and rider, fresh from the
country, both of them dusty and travel-stained, and, as the stable-boys
whispered among themselves, both "starving for the curry-comb."

The lad passed in at the gate, whipping the dust from his clothes with
the switch he carried.

"Good-evening, boys."

Robin glared back fiercely to see that no insolent response was made,
but there was no danger. The voice and manner were such that many a hand
jerked up to a cap. Besides, the young lad, though his clothes were old
and travel-stained, and his hair was long and was powdered with dust,
showed a clean-cut face, a straight back, broad shoulders, and muscular
legs, as he strode by with a swing which many a stable-boy remarked.

Robin led the horse away around the end of the nearest stable. No one
would have known his feelings, for he kept a severe countenance, and
broke out on the nearest stable-boy with fierce invective for not
getting out of his way.

The horse carried his head high, and, with pointed ears, wide eyes, and
dilated nostrils, inspected everything on eit