208 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



with the aid of a passing navvy, we 

 dragged them inside. The sportsman 

 gave me a sovereign, and told me to 

 put it on Tib for the Stewards* Cup, 

 which I did, and it won at twenty-five to 

 one. It was partly as hush-money, too, 

 I think, as the place was not very big, 

 and he was a town councillor, or something 

 of that sort. I kept my trust pretty 

 well, too, as I've never breathed a word 

 from that day to this, and even now 

 I have not divulged the name of the 

 town, have I ? 



Often in those days, when I had 

 nothing to do, no money, and no means 

 of earning any, I used to have a day's 

 hunting on foot; and I have walked and 

 run miles and miles a day after the 

 hounds. If ever I'd captured a loose 

 horse, you bet I'd have had a good ride ; 

 but none such ever happened to cross 



