48 



THE LIFE OP A RACEHOHSE. 



" There's nothin* to "be done as far as / can see, Harry,** 

 rejoined the head of the family of the Tops, in a tone and 

 manner Avhich conveyed the inference that human vision had 

 its limits in the given capacity of the speaker. "There's 

 nothin' to be done as far as / can see," repeated he, "and 

 nothin' left undone that ought to be done. He's in the tip-top 

 bloom o' condition !" 



"He'll pull it off, sir, won't he?" returned my youthful 

 attendant, with a certain degree of palpable nervousness. 



"Is that three-pun-ten on?" inquired Mr. Top. 



" To the last bless-ed mag," responded Harry. 



"There's nothin' lik^ metal!" exclaimed E-obert, with 

 enthusiasm. " You're a spicy little hid, Harry ; but don't be 

 afeard, lad. That tliree-pun-ten '11 roll like a damp snowball, 

 bigger as it goes." 



This reply seemed to give infinite assurance to Harry, 

 whose features became lighted up with the united expression 

 of confidence and hope. 



The stable clock at length struck the hour preceding that 

 appointed for me to go to the post, when. I was led, hooded and 

 clothed, from my box, and walked quietly towards that part of 

 the heath " from the turn of the lands in," where my maiden 

 public appearance was to take place, either for success or defeat. 



The company already assembled consisted of a black patch 

 in the distance, so unlike the dense crowds I subsequently 

 witnessed in scenes of a similar kind; and although the number 

 was increasing from various points of the compass, it never 

 reached the usual attendance of a popular race meeting. If, 

 however, the Houghton — that knell of the departing race 

 season — lacked in quantity, the deficiency, perhaps, vras made 

 up in the quality of the spectators ; for few vrere present who 

 ^vere not of England's aristocratic lineage and gentle birth. 



The signal was now given for saddling, and immediately 

 afterwards the small, lean, lemon- visaged jockey, who had made 

 the running for me in the trial, stood booted, spurred, and 

 capped by my side. Over one arm he held a saddle, which 

 John Sellusall himself placed upon my back, and girthing it 



