53 THE LIFE OF A RACEIIOr.SE. 



" To be sure," continued he, " it's clear enough that a feller 

 may bet so as to keep on the right side the road, let 'em drive 

 the coach as they will. Supposin', now, I was to lay the odds 

 of seven to three against this Duffer Clearwell, and book a bet 

 of two 'undred an' twentysevenpunten to ninetysevenpunten 

 against him. And supposin' I was to lay the odds of the day, 

 nine to four, against you, my bo-o-oy, and book a bet of two 

 'undred-an'-twenty-five-pound to one 'undred pound. Well ! 

 having laid against both of yer, I now take it into my 'ed to 

 back both against the field for just one 'undred-an'-seventy-five- 

 pound. Now, if the Duffer Clearwell were to win, I should 

 lose my bet of two 'undred an' twentysevenpunten ; but I 

 should win my 'undred pound against you, my bo-o-oy, and my 

 'undi'ed-an'-seventyfive-pound on my backin' both against the 

 field, and so a balance of just fortysevenpunten would be in my 

 favour. Nov/, if you were to win, my bo-o-oy, I should drop 

 my tvv^o 'undred-an'-twenty-five-pound ; but I should nibble the 

 ninety-sevenpunten against the Duffer Clearwell, and still one 

 \indred-an'-seventyfive-pound on backin' o' both ye against the 

 field, so that I should pull off the same balance of fortyseven- 

 punten let which win that might. But supposin' that neither 

 of yer was landed the winner, how should I stand then ? 

 Why, I should stand on velvet; because I must win the 

 ninetysevenpunten against Clearwell, and the 'undred pound 

 against you, my bo-o-oy, while I should drop the bet of one 

 'undred-an'-seventy-five-pound on both of ye against the field, 

 and thus nibble a clear twentytwopunten. That's the way to 

 make a book ! " cried Harry, jumping from his seat and striding 

 about in a state of almost indescribable excitement. "I 

 thought when I put on my considerin' cap I should do the 

 trick. Make yourself a winner any way. That's yer sor-r-rt!" 

 and dropping on his hands he ran up and down the entire 

 length of my box with his heels kicking wildly in the air, 

 repeating, "Make yourself a winner any way. That's yer 

 sor-r-rt ! " 



Harry Dale's means have frequently been varied for the 

 end to bo attained ; but from that moment he never lost sight 

 of the object — to be a winner any way. 



