OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 79 



Jackson was surprised at his own position and his 

 own chance ; and afterwards observed, in describing 

 this extraordinary race, " When we got to the first 

 cross-road I had lost all my ill-temper and mortifi- 

 cation ; I turned my head for a moment ; a crowd 

 of horses (twenty-two) were thundering close at my 

 heels ; the sight was terrific, the speed tremendous. 

 Theodore pulled hard, but I held him tight. ' Now, 

 my little fellow, 3 said I to myself, c keep up this pace 

 to the top of the hill, and I don't care a straw for the 

 whole lot.' I felt as strong as a giant ; I thought 

 my arms were made of iron ; and the blood rushed 

 merrily through my veins, while my heart thumped 

 at my ribs. Away we went at a rattling pace ; I was 

 first over the hill, and never was headed in any part 

 of the race ! " 



e On reaching the top of the hill, however, 

 Jackson turned his head to look for the first favourite, 

 Swap ; he was in the centre of the crowd. " You 

 are done for," said he to himself; "I sha'n't be 

 troubled with you ! " On descending, he eased 

 Theodore a little ; but was instantly on the look-out 

 for the other favourites, or, to use his own words, 

 "the harlequins and the magpies" that is, Mr. 

 Watt's horses, ridden in harlequin jackets, and Mr. 

 Gascoigne's, in black and white. Swap was com- 

 pletely defeated ; and he had the greatest terror 

 of Mr. Gascoigne's two, particularly Violet. Then 

 came the tug of war. The favourites, after passing 



