154 CHASING AND RACING 



been dragged backwards, by the tail, through a duck 

 pond. 



There was close betting as between Lambton's 

 mount and my own ; whilst 100-1 was actually laid 

 against the gallant Colonel's " rag " of a gee. If no 

 one else backed it, the owner did, and so the S.P. was 

 duly and accurately returned. 



" Joe " went away with the lead. Neither Lambton 

 nor myself took the slightest notice of him, but watched 

 one another with lynx-like vigilance. And so we ran 

 to the straight, with the " unconsidered trifle " still 

 holding a four lengths' advantage. The going was 

 very sticky, and we were giving away a lot of weight, 

 but it was not until we were about three furlongs from 

 home that it suddenly dawned upon us that the 

 " scarecrow " was not coming back to us, as we had so 

 confidently expected. On the contrary, he looked like 

 going further away. " Here, I say," shouted George 

 of the Lambton ilk to me, " we shall never catch that 

 joker if we don't hurry up ! " 



And faithy we never did ! 



The despised one passed the post with a very 

 useful margin, much to the amusement and delight of 

 the crowd, or to those thereof who had not backed 

 Trelaske or G. L,'s mount ; for Colonel Cumberlege 

 was a local sportsman who was immensely popular, 

 and one who " trained " (save the mark !) his own 

 modest string ; but who seldom scored. 



This Joe Miller afterwards proved that he was 



