THE FINISH. 107 



The particular mode in which I was made safe was not then 

 divulged, and finding myself perfectly well on the morning 

 of the race, I began to think Messrs. Dale and Swiggle's tactics 

 must be changed, and that neither my water was to be poisoned, 

 a drug administered, nor my shins purposely bruised, or frogs 

 pricked so as to cause temporary lameness. Alas ! I had not 

 yet learned the whole of the means by which the certainties of 

 the turf are carried out. 



The hour at length arrived for me to be led out for the 

 Ladies' Plate at Leicester, and as Jack Swiggle came near my 

 head to adjust the bridle, I was sensible of a most unpleasant 

 smell, and still more offensive taste, as he thrust the bit into my 

 mouth. Nauseous as it was, I champed the steel until the 

 froth dropped from my lips, and swallowing some of the quickly- 

 engendered saliva, immediately experienced a sick, faint feeling 

 which momentarily increased. 



"There," said Jack Smggle, in a whisper, "if yer can run in 

 the form of a winner with a painted bit as a quid, I'll put up with 

 my loss like a lilywhite Christian, and won't swear a morsel." 



Like many similar promises, however. Jack Swiggle knew 

 full well that the chance was very small of his being required 

 to exhibit a fulfilment of it. The record of the past informed 

 him that a " painted bit" was one of the deadliest methods of 

 making a horse safe, even at the moment of his being led out 

 for saddling ; and, availing himself of it, little indeed might be 

 the hesitation of giving an assurance to " put up with the loss 

 like a Hly white Christian." 



Jack Swiggle knew that he could not lose, because of my 

 incapacity to win. 



CHAPTER XXL 



THE FINISH. 



As I was and as I am ! The downfall, indeed, is great, and 

 yet not more so than too often befals the sequel of other lives 

 than mine. If I reverse the hour-glass, and in my mind's eye 

 watch the sand run through once again, I shall see quite as sor- 



