THE j.ifp: of a sportsman 



our hero cainc in n clear length in front, and without stirring 

 a hand, still less a foot. The congratulations of his friends 

 were boundless, as he approached the scales to weigh, and his 

 trainer, Mr. Lilly, seemed as happy as if he had won the 

 Derby. 



' This will do,' said he to a friend, as he led Nameless from 

 the scales; 'we shall have this young one another time. But, 

 upon my soul, he has surprised me ; he seems to want no 

 teaching. How like an old one he talks, and how well he rode 

 this race ! ' 



And what said the renowned George Burrell, nearly the best 

 of the Bibury jockeys ? 



' The Prince was in luck,' said he, ' to win the Welter, with 

 a better horse in the race. Had it been run as this has been 

 run. Nameless would have been a length before us all, and hard 

 held too. He is an extraordinary horse, you may depend upon 

 it. Try and buy him,' said he, in a whisper, to a friend who 

 was by his side ; ' he will win the Welter next year, to a 

 certainty. I could not more than live with him the first mile 

 and a half, and as to heading him afterwards, that was out of 

 the question. And he was not badly ridden.' 



' Bravo, Frank ! ' exclaimed Hargrave ; ' you won your race 

 in style. Pity is it that you cannot ride lighter, for you would 

 make a capital jockey in a very short time.' 



' Who would have thoupht it ? ' ^rumbled O'Hara ; ' bad luck 

 to the garran that I backed ! ' 



' Garran ! ' exclaimed Lord Marley ; ' Nameless is the 

 best horse of the year at this weight. I wish he were 

 mine.' 



' I beg your pardon, Mr. Raby,' said Colonel Leigh, approach- 

 ing our hero, as he walked away from the weighing-stand ; 

 ' the Prince wishes to know whether you are disposed to part 

 with your horse, and, if so, you will be pleased to name your 

 price.' 



' Present my duty to the Prince, sir,' replied Raby, ' and 

 please to tell his Royal Highness Nameless is not for sale. I 

 intend to make a hunter of him.' 



' What ! ' exclaimed Fairfax, who was at his elbow, ' make 

 a hunter of a horse that could have won one of the best stakes 

 in England this year, and is nearly certain of winning it 

 next ! ' 



332 



