Colonel R. F, Meysey-Thompson 



have joined you, only I did not like to do so when the others 

 were so set against it." The result of the manoeuvre was that 

 Elmina gained an advantage of two or three lengths round the 

 turn, which Mr. Meysey-Thompson made the most of, until 

 the others, annoyed at their mistake, drove their horses along 

 until they had caught him up, which was not for some distance. 

 Instead of then steadying their mounts the rest of the com- 

 petitors went on racing against each other, and as Mr. Meysey- 

 Thompson had no intention of doing the same, he was soon last 

 of all. When about half the distance had been covered there 

 was a dip in the track, and just before commencing the decline 

 Mr. Meysey-Thompson began to wonder whether it was yet 

 time to try and reach the leaders, but glancing at the stand far 

 away on the right, it looked still such a distance off, he decided 

 to wait a little longer. Directly afterwards he reached the 

 nearest horse, which was already beaten, whose jockey ex- 

 claimed, as he was being passed, " I think you and I had better 

 pull up." But Mr. Meysey-Thompson had already noted the 

 foremost horses were faltering, while a steep ascent was coming ; 

 so, merely glancing at the rider who had just spoken, he 

 remarked, "I do not know what you are going to do, but I 

 am going to win this race." At that moment they were passing 

 a certain post, while the horses in front were crossing a tan 

 gallop in the bottom ; so, measuring the distance afterwards to 

 find out how far he was behind at that time, Mr. Meysey- 

 Thompson found it to be just forty yards. However, before the 

 leading horses had gained the top of the ascent, they tired so 

 much that Elmina was at their quarters, and then, taking up the 

 running, won in a canter. After passing the scales the winning 

 jockey sat upon a table while he watched the others weigh in, 

 when the one who accosted him during the race, who was also 

 the one who had made the remark at the starting-post, came 



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