Hammersley's Pluck 



we 'ad in those days, and well I knows the money 

 is to pay Master Harry's debts again. 



"And then you know, sir, as how arfter 'e comes 

 back from India, he begins to sicken with that 

 damn heathen fever — asking your pardon for the 

 word, sir. 'E never was the same again and 'e got 

 worse and worse. All the time the estate was 

 going to ruin and Master Harry worrying the life 

 out of 'im, though meaning no harm, 'e worship- 

 ping 'is lordship. 



"It was one night, or nearer morning, the wind 

 howling and beating the rain against the windows 

 fit to smash them in, that I 'ears someone moving 

 about below in the stable. I jumps out o* bed 

 and calls, 'Who's there .^' 'Judson,' someone says, 

 and I knows 'is voice; * Judson,' 'e says, 'come 

 down,' and I goes down. There 'e is, standing 

 with 'is back to me, 'is legs spread apart and 

 covered with mud from head to foot. He 'ad 

 rode over from quarters, a fair twenty miles, as 

 you know, and 'is 'orse more dead than alive. 

 'Judson,' 'e says, never turning around, when 'e 

 'ears me behind 'im, but staring at Black Douglas, 

 'this horse comes of good blood, 'is great grandsire 

 won a Grand National.' 'Yes, sir,' says I. Don't 

 interrupt,' says 'e, that being 'is way, and me as 

 'adn't seen 'im since 'e come home; but Lord, sir, 

 'e 'd ha' give 'is right 'and for me and I knowed it. 

 51 



