198 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



having undergone that change in a short distance, while Rupert had also closed 

 up with De Vere and King Cophetua. Going through the furzes Ethus dropped 

 right away in rear with Belladrum, the pair at the top of the hill being at least 

 fifty yards behind everything, and the further they went the more apparent was 

 it they were out-paced. From this point the actual contest may be said to have 

 commenced, as the speed, which had been worse than in many a race for a paltry 

 plate, was greatly increased, and then the "tailing" commenced in earnest, 

 Ladas and Tenedos being observed toiling hopelessly along. Neuchatel soon 

 disappeared from the front, but Lord Hawthorn held his position with a slight 

 advantage to Tattenham Corner, where a scrimmage occurred, owing to Thor- 

 waldsen swerving across in front of Duke of Beaufort, who " tripped " and nearly 

 came down. To avoid a disastrous collision Wells was compelled to pull Pero 

 Gomez right out of his track, and thread his way into the straight on the outside 

 of his horses, and Mr. Bevill was also compelled to steady Alpenstock, to prevent 

 him striking into Mr. Bray ley's colt. This unfortunate contretemps, although 

 luckily it was not attended with any serious results, created such confusion that 

 it was a matter of some difficulty to tell what led fairly round the obnoxious 

 bend. However, when fairly in the straight, it was discovered that Lord 

 Hawthorn had beaten a retreat, The Drummer, with Perry Down, and Rupert 

 on his left, occupying the lower ground, King Cophetua, The ^Egean, and 

 Pretender lying in the centre, with Ryshworth and Pero Gomez on the right 

 hand or upper side of the course. Martyrdom, though completely settled, 

 struggled on in the wake of the left division, and Duke of Beaufort was 

 striding along just in rear of the favourite, followed by Alpenstock. These 

 formed the front rank, and The Drummer, almost immediately after they 

 were in the line for home, took up the running, The ^Egean retiring 

 directly, King Cophetua being in trouble a few strides further on, and 

 Perry Down, although apparently going strong and well, stopped as if he was 

 shot. Before reaching the distance Ryshworth had signified that he had "had 

 enough of it," and for a moment Rupert and Duke of Beaufort lying on either 

 side of Mr. Graham's colt, showed such a formidable front that the fielders 

 were screaming with excitement. When the trio had fairly fought out their 

 struggle, to the manifest advantage of The Drummer, Pretender and Pero 

 Gomez, who had been momentarily overlooked, shot to the front opposite the 

 Stand, and in a moment the final issue became a match between the celebrated 

 pair. The Two Thousand hero had a slight advantage till within about fifty 

 yards of the chair, when Wells, by a magnificent effort, answered most gallantly 

 by Pero Gomez, drew level, and, indeed, appeared to get the best of him, but the 

 son of Adventurer and Ferina was fully equal to the great and trying occasion, as 

 he gamely responded to Osborne's determined call, and won one of the grandest 

 races ever witnessed by a head. The Drummer, although hard pressed by Duke 

 of Beaufort, Rupert, and Ryshworth, obtained place honours by a length, but the 

 other three, clear of Mr. Graham's hardy representative, were so nearly level that 

 it was impossible to assign either of them the fourth position. Alpenstock, about 

 four lengths away, was seventh, Martyrdom being eighth, King Cophetua ninth, 

 Thorwaldsen tenth, Perry Down eleventh, Defender twelfth, and De Vere thir- 

 teenth. Then came Lord Hawthorn, Border Knight, Tasman, Ethus, Tenedos, 

 The ^Egean, and Neuchatel in a cluster. Belladrum and Ladas were pulled up 

 before reaching the post, but Lord Rosebery's colt was credited with the twenty- 



