THE SALE AT TATTERSALL'S. 77 



at the post ready for the signal to commence the work, I 

 resolved to win though pulled double. 



The red flag fluttered a few seconds in the breeze and 

 dropped. We were ofi". With an effort which proved far 

 beyond Ned's control, I jumped to the front, and, getting into 

 my stride with a rush, took the lead at a pace which bore the ap- 

 pearance, I exj)ect, of being too good to last ; for many a jockey 

 can affirm, to lose a race cleverly is frequently more difficult 

 than to win one. Ned slipped his hands forward, and getting a 

 short hold of his reins, threw his body back almost upon my 

 quarter. The entire weight of his body, diminutive as it was, being 

 thus thrown into my jaws, mastered me, and I was compelled 

 to slacken my speed. With my head still first, on we swept to 

 the cover, belting the distant part of the course, where my old 

 antagonist Clearwell, lying in the ruck, crept forward, and again 

 we were side by side. This position we maintained to the Red 

 House, where I again shot to the front, and came with the lead 

 of a clear length round the bend. Again, however, Ned's weight 

 was in my jaws, and the succeeding moment Clearwell's head 

 laid within a few inches of my girths. I threw desperation in 

 the effort ; but my powers were becoming spent. The distance 

 was now gained. Head and head we once more swept along, 

 amidst the shouts of thousands. On the post, ay, on the post 

 itself, at the moment I wanted but a slackened rein, the heart- 

 less devil on my back pulled me from my stride, and the race 

 was — lost 1 



CHAPTER XY. 



THE SALE AT TATTERSALL's. 



Within a little more than a week of my defeat for the St. 

 Leger, the following announcement appeared in the form of a 

 public advertisement: — "To be sold at Tattersall's, on Monday 

 next, without reserve, the entire stud, brood mares, and blood 

 stock, the property of a gentleman retiring from the turf." To 

 have conveyed the whole truth, it should have added : — " With a 

 broken fortune and a broken heart." Poor Sir Digby ! I saw him 



