94: THE LIFE OP A KACEIIOr.GE. " . 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE DRUG. 



Like a thief in the night, like one whose heart beat fitfully, 

 from the deed of guilt he was about committing, Tom Shybird 

 unlocked the door of my box, and, with a stealthy footfall, 

 approached the spot where I was comfortably stretched upon 

 my bed. It was still dark, and as far as I could judge from the 

 repose I had had, some hours must yet pass before the village 

 cock would rouse the perched partlet by his side. 



"I suppose he's down," whispered my trainer; and then 

 adding a single click with his tongue by way of a summons for 

 me to rise, I got upon my fore feet, and sprung from my recum- 

 bent position. " Softly," said he, " softly," as if anxious to allay 

 the fear which his early and unexpected visit might occasion. 



His outstretched hand first fell upon my neck, and then, 

 passing it gently towards my head, he pressed his fingers across 

 my nose from the ofi" side, and for a few seconds held me to his 

 breast and caressed me. Although not totally devoid of appre- 

 hension of some evil, from what I had heard the previous day, 

 yet his manner was so difiereut to an enemy's that I began ta 

 hope my suspicion to be groundless, when he suddenly thrust 

 his fingers into my mouth, and I was sensible of something 

 most unpleasant to the taste left within it. The mixture I 

 believe to have been a preparation of bitter aloes and opium, 

 and although I tried to reject as much as possible, yet, mingling 

 quickly with my saliva, I could not prevent swallowing a suffi- 

 cient quantity to answer the purpose to be served. I was 

 sufficiently drugged to render the winning the race, for which I 

 should be stripped in a few hours, impossible. In the language 

 of the turf, I was " nobbled." 



Like one, indeed, whose heart beat fitfully, from the deed of 

 guilt he had committed, Tom Shybird crept from my side, and, 

 treading lightly as he went, left me alone to ponder upon the 

 black iniquity of man to man, when professing only to be ruled 

 by the code of honour. 



Sick, faint, and drowsy, the poison soon began to do its 



