CHASING AND RACING 145 



I told him how gratified I was, in that I had been the 

 humble means of replenishing his exchequer. Further- 

 more, I ventured to inquire what his trade or occupa- 

 tion might happen to be when he was not engaged in 

 pursuing the sport o* kings ? 



** Well, Guv*nor,'* he answered, " by rights Fm an 

 undertaker's mute, but I do a bit o* teaching in the 

 Sunday schools most weeks." 



Well ! Well ! Well ! 



Later on I struck ** Nos. i and 2." 



" Hullo lads ! '* I exclaimed cheerily on meeting 

 them. ** I hope you packed up a parcel on old Weasel. 

 You see I did not fall off after all. I don't mind 

 telling you, in confidence of course, that my mount ran 

 clean away with me ; but I managed to cling on by 

 clutching his mane. Lucky, wasn't it ? " 



" No. I " was silent. 



** Don't rub it in, sir ! " murmured *' No. 2 " 

 miserably. 



