rNDEKSTANDING EACH OTHER. 71 



ing Lis arms across his breast, turned an ear in the direction of 

 where my jaundice-cheeked rider stood, like Toby sometimes 

 did when he heard a mouse in the wall. 



"It's touch and go, eh?" said he. "Nothing in which the 

 pull can be said to be in our favour." 



" I think the distance may suit him better," replied Ned ; 

 "but that depends how the running's made for us." 



"Made or unmade," rejoined our trainer, irritably, "slow 

 or fast, we can't book winning a certainty, or anything like it." 



Ned shook his head, and began to suck the silver-mounted 

 end of a straight cutting whip which he held in both hands. 



" But the opportunity's great of making money," continued 

 John Sellusall, with the parenthesis strongly marked. "We 

 have never had such a chance before, and may never have again." 



Ned again shook his head, and sighed despondingly. 



"I have done my best," resumed our trainer, "to make Sir 

 Digby understand the immense advantage to which he may 

 turn the cards he holds in his hand; but he either won't or 

 can't understand me. His honour, I suppose, stands in the 

 way of his interests, mine don't." 



A faint smile flickered across the features of the lemon- 

 visaged jockey; but he said nothing. 



"I told him as plainly as I dare," re-commenced John 

 Sellusall, "that a hundred thousand might now be won by 

 laying against our horse by commission — gently and tenderly 

 managed — and backing Clearwell at the present odds. He, 

 however, stands to win all he wants on the double event; I am 

 not so fortunate." 



Ned remained sucking the end of his whip, with his eyes 

 steadfastly bent upon the straw at his feet. 



"Sir Digby's determination is, as it ever has been," con- 

 tinued our trainer, " to run to win. There's no cause to quarrel 

 with such a decision on the part of any gentleman ; but it 

 doesn't always suit our books, Ned. The boot sometimes fits 

 better on the other leg. Now, do we understand one another?" 



"We may by-and-by," responded the jockey, leering out of 

 the corners of his eyes. 



