CHASING AND RACING ii 



an attack was pressed home by the roughs. After 

 having filled the silver bowls with the choicest vintages 

 of their unwilling hosts, their health was drunk with 

 acclamation to the very dregs, and then the trophies, 

 plus forks, spoons, and other utensils of sterling metal, 

 were transferred to convenient sacks and dispatched 

 to some melting furnace, the situation of which was 

 more than problematical. Moreover, the ladies were 

 urgently pressed to bestow souvenirs in the shape 

 of diamonds and other precious stones on their husky 

 ** guests '* and none dared to refuse. After that, 

 the gang devoted themselves to the real business of 

 the day — viz. racing. The few " bookies ** present 

 were freely patronized, but the punters took no risks. 

 They chose their own favourite and made sure of its 

 ** clicking " by the simple expedient of sending patrols 

 to all the fences, to stop any horse and rider (except 

 their own choice) who seemed to have the remotest 

 chance of landing the stakes. They did pretty well 

 at this, but decided that the pencillers ought not to 

 be allowed to depart with any superfluous dross 

 remaining over — after the aforesaid operations — 

 and acted accordingly. To illuminate the end of 

 a perfect day the exuberant " lads *' set fire to all 

 the fences and stands, and departed, drunken, but 

 happy in a blaze of glory. 

 Hark back ! 



