40 CHASING AND RACING 



mile race and by the time we had gone six furlongs 

 the rest of the field was stone cold and Tommy and 

 I were out by ourselves. Nearing the final bend I 

 came up to the leader when Tommy turned his head : 



** I say, Guv'nor," he exclaimed, *' this old blighter 

 is full of running, what am I to do ? " 



** Why, damn you,'* I cried, " go on and win, 

 if you can I '* 



All up the straight we ran, neck and neck, 

 Winkelman was galloping with diabolical and un- 

 wonted resolution, and the dog whip was stimu- 

 lating the phlegmatic Embrocation to his utmost 

 endeavour. He got to the head of his stable com- 

 panion but no further, and by that small margin we 

 were defeated ! What a Pyrrhic victory ! 



" I hope I did right, sir,'' said Tommy, apolo- 

 getically. 



I do not know what answer was expected, but it 

 was in the affirmative, as Ministers remark when they 

 want to be terse with an irritating and persistent 

 questioner in the House. 



Obviously this was a tight and desperate finish, but 

 had Winkelman won easily or even cleverly, no doubt 

 nasty remarks would have been buzzed about. 



Ted's other " tit " was a well-topped bay pony of 

 fourteen hands, called Early Morn, but his forelegs 

 would have outdone the most dilapidated cab horse, 

 so over at the knee were they. I rode him several 

 times but do not remember his having borne the 



