Hoof Beats 



Then 'e goes on, still staring at Black Douglas: 

 "Judson, I want this horse fit to run in the 

 "Queen's," two weeks from today. The entry 

 must be in day after tomorrow. Attend to it. 

 I ride 'im myself.' Then 'e has a fit of shivering, 

 and I blessed near dies of fright when 'e turns 

 around and I see 'is face, so changed it is. 



*'The next day 'e sends for me. I finds 'is 

 lordship and Master Harry together, and Master 

 Harry looking very sad and dejected. 'Judson,' 

 says 'is lordship, T owe £5,000 that must be paid 

 a month from to-day' — and right well I knows 

 who owes it — 'sell everything in the stable, get 

 the best odds you can, and lay all on Black Doug- 

 las to win. I'll lay what I 'ave, myself,' says 'e. 

 Then 'e comes over and put 'is 'and on my shoulder 

 *Judson,' says 'e, *it's the family honor, that's all.' 



" 'Yes, sir,' says I, and goes outside and flings 

 my cap in the air, for see what it means — 'is 

 lordship's colors to run again, as once couldn't 

 be beat, and me to train the greatest three-year- 

 old in H'england! 



"Well, the colt did fine and showed better form 

 every day, fast on the flat, strong at 'is jumps and 

 liked it. But 'is lordship, 'e went the other way, 

 from bad to worse. So a week before the race 

 they puts 'im to bed and 'arf the regiment with 

 a month's pay backing 'im, too. And no other 

 52 



