8G TIIi; LIFE OF A KACTHOr.Si:. 



"Yon tliink liim too dangerous, eli?" 



" Both run on the square," slowly replied my owner, " and 

 tlie most made of each, and there's not more than two pounds 

 hetween 'em." 



"But there is that," said Tom Shy bird, with the same 

 furtive peep over his shoulders. 



"There has been, and may be; but who can hang on to 

 such a close shave as that?" returned Slippery Ho. "Yhy, 

 vun might as veil play pitch and toss vith a fail* 'apenny." 



The argument appeared to possess considerable influence 

 upon Tom Shybird's mind ; for he stood chewing the piece of 

 hay in silence, and momentarily forgot to look for John Doe or 

 Bichard Eoe. 



"I've put on a monkey," continued my new, very new 

 owner, " at the present odds ; and vith the stakes, amounting 

 to seven hundred, less fifty for the second horse, ve shall do 

 pretty veil if ve can but j^ull through. But he'll cost me more 

 than a thousand then. How am I to get that back?" 



" He's in the Cesarevvdtch," remarked Tom Shybird. 



" In the Cesarewitch ! " repeated the Jew with a sneer. 

 "Yes, he's among the top w^eights — eight-stone-nine, vith six 

 pound penalty. Yould you advise me to back him'?" 



"Ha !" ejaculated my trainer, satisfying himself there were 

 none of the Doe and Boe kith and kin too close to be agree- 

 able; "when it comes to the handicaps they stop a good 'oss." 



"But they shan't stop mine," rejoined Slippery Mo, with an 

 exulting laugh. " They have now and vill again ; but I'U 

 vait my time, and catch 'em on the hop. Yes, yes, Tom ; he 

 must run behind in many a bad lot, pull up dead lame, strip as 

 rough as a badger vith the north-east vind in his coat, and 

 break down by-an'-by in a selKng stakes, vhere ve'Il enter him 

 to be sold for fifty pound. Then,'' continued my new, very 

 new OY\aier emphatically, " ve shall get him in light, and make 

 a certainty of pulling off a good thing." 



" The hole will be a deep 'un for some of 'em," remarked 

 Tom Shybird, making sure that Messrs. Doe and Boe, or any- 

 representative of that firm, were not just behind him. 



