86 



RACING. 



he is steadied, and one of the outsiders rushing to the front 

 comes along a cracker. 



Time being of much importance to most of the spectators, 

 great satisfaction is expressed at the pace ; Romanus, Os- 

 munda, and Ambrosia are pulling double at Paul's quarters, 

 and nearly level with them, but wide on the right, is Fordham on 

 Amulet. The remaining two horses are in difficulties already. 



They run thus till nearing the Bushes, when the leader, 

 who is spun out, or who has ' had his feeler,' drops back to the 



The forlorn division 



forlorn division. With the exception of Osmunda, a length in 

 their rear, the others are almost abreast. 



Descending the Abingdon Mile hill, to the dumb conster- 

 nation of his backers Romanus is seen to falter and lose his 

 pace. Wood calls on him without mending matters, and six 

 to four on the field goes begging. As they approach the bottom 

 of the dip Paul Pry too begins to roll. There ts something 

 wrong with those shoulders after all. Archer gives him a 

 savage shake. * Five hundred to two against Paul,' shrieks Steel. 

 Lord Olim, who has been waiting his opportunity, snaps at 

 the bet just as Osmunda, going straight as an arrow, takes up 

 the running. 



