52 THE LIFE OF A KACEIIORSE. 



"I got on," replied the elated Harry, "at eight to one, sir." 

 " Eight-an'-twenty pounds landed, eh?" rejoined the head 

 lad, with undisguised admiration at what he called my attend- 

 ant's "pluck." 



"I went in, ye see, sir," returned Harry, "for a burster. 



* A lump or nothin,' said I to myself. Up went the brown. 



* Head,' called I, and head it came as certain as if biffins aint 

 baked pippins !" 



"An' what are yer going to do with yer winnings?" asked 

 Spanky, who appeared to lose much of the unlimited distance 

 hitherto existing between Harry and himself; and the sudden 

 change, as I then thought, seemed to be the efioct of his 

 discovering the great addition to my attendant's pecuniary 

 resources. 



"I mean," said Harry, with an important air, which 

 touched slightly upon condescension, " to send a commission to 

 town, and back our crack to a pony for the Derby." 



"All the eggs, then," added Spanky, "are not to be put into 

 one basket for the futer, eh, my fine feller ?" 



"Well, sir!" returned Harry, "if the event didn't come off 

 'xactly co-rect, one would like to have a feather or two left to 

 fly with." 



"That's business, and nothing hut business!" observed the 

 head lad, with admiration at the policy. " You'll do the trick 

 one o' these days, my fine feller, I know ; but remember what 

 I tell yer of the difference between winning like a swell and a 

 sweep ; and when the boot's on t'other leg, up with the shirt- 

 collar and give it plenty o' cheek. That's the way to stare yer 

 losses out o' countenance !" 



Harry Dale expressed his readiness to profit by Spanky's 

 advice, and as he did so, we came into the yard of our stable. 

 "Upon my arrival, I was surrounded by boys of various ages, 

 sizes, and complexions ; and each seemed to vie with the rest in 

 iauding me as " the flyer of my year." 



" There's not a colt foaled that can beat him," remarked one. 



"PIc'll cut the work out for 'em at Epsom," observed 

 another. 



