EOPING FOE THE ST. LEGER. 73 



witli pourtrayed satisfaction, "that's what I call a letter, that 

 is. In them few words a feller may learn more than some 

 chaps could write in a whole book. Ah!" and Harry Dale 

 drew a long breath as he folded the document in the form in 

 which it was to be dispatched, "it takes me to do the trick 

 upon partic'lar occasions!" 



The task completed, my egotistical attendant approached 

 my head, and stood gazing at me with his hands buried in the 

 depths of his breeches pockets and his legs stretched apart. So 

 like Robert Top ! oh, so like Bobei-t Top ! 



" I can see it in John Sellusall's ways," said he, " in those 

 eyes of his which look sharp enough to gimlet themselves 

 through stout oak boards. They won't win the Leger with ye, 

 my bo-o-oy. No, the boot's on the other leg ; but it shall be 

 the right one with me, ay, as right as the sun." 



'Tis a long time ago ; but I remember, as he quitted my 

 box, that a deep sombre shade stole over the walls, and I felt the 

 darkness creep, as it were, into my heart, which, from that 

 moment, it never left. 



Notwithstanding the design, however, of purposely losing 

 the race, the same care and attention were bestowed upon me 

 for the great event, as if a directly opposite result was most 

 ingenuously desired. I was sweated, watched, guarded, and 

 treated precisely in the same manner as our trainer observed, 

 with so much minuteness, in the preparation for the Derby. I 

 learned also, that acting in concert with others, he openly backed, 

 or, more properly speaking, seemed to be supporting me for a 

 large amount at the short odds then quoted as the current price, 

 when at the same moment he was laying as heavily as he could 

 against me by commission. Not a guinea of good money was 

 allowed to slip. The moment an offer was made ^to back Sheet 

 Anchor, it met vv^ith a ready, but wary acceptor, to whom the 

 secret had been confided. Thus thousands upon thousands were 

 laid, the public entei-taining the greatest confidence in the in- 

 tegrity of my owner ; and the " stable money" still being " got 

 on," to all outward appearances, confirmed the general belief 

 that, at least, I should run to -svin. Nothing, of necessity, could 



