THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 107 



light, old chap, cut away. Now look at them going 

 at that post and rails ; that's a floorer for some 

 of them. By Jupiter ! splendidly jumped ! " he ex- 

 claimed, as the Sabots again sent his horse at the 

 fence and cleared it. " That fellow can ride well ; 

 he wins, for a hundred ! " 



( I never saw better riding in my life than these 

 Bretons showed us. They sent their horses along 

 at a tremendous pace, and sat them well. They 

 were now out of sight. 



" Hang it, what a pity," remarked the Irishman, 

 " we are not upon the hill-side ! we could see it all. 

 There's the bell ringing again ; they are coming 

 home. There they are; and, by the powers, Blue 

 Stockings is leading the lot. Where the blazes is 

 Sabots ? " 



6 But Sabots was not far behind. 



" Now, my boys, there they come at the big water- 

 jump. Holy Moses ! Blue Stockings is in it ! " And 

 so it was. His bolt was shot, and he was plunging 

 in about seven feet of water. 



" I hope that won't be our fate," said Debenham 

 to me. " Look at Sabots again ; there he comes 

 jumped like a bird. Hang me if all the Bretons are 

 not together : it is a splendid race." 



' On they came at a tremendous pace, whipping, 

 spurring, and screaming out their " Hi, hi ! " Bat 

 Sabots is too much for them, and he lands his horse 

 a winner by three lengths. The victor is weighed 



