Steeplechase Riding 189 



a servant up to the young man's room to 

 announce that they were all waiting for him. 

 Then the murder was out. The absent- 

 minded one had undressed and gone to 

 bed! 



A good story is told of a certain profes- 

 sional steeplechase jockey and a (?) gentleman 

 rider who must both (perforce, and the law 

 of the libel) be nameless here. There were 

 four or five starters only for a steeplechase 

 on the old Eltham course. Through falls 

 and refusals all of them were out of the race, 

 half a mile from home, except these two. 

 The " Pro." was leading, and kept anxiously 

 looking round for his solitary antagonist, who 

 made no sign of " coming along." 



At last the horrible idea dawned upon 

 each, that the other was not " on the job." 



"Go on, sir, my horse is stone beat ! " cried 

 out the "Pro." 



In a flash, a bright insj)iration came into 

 the amateur's mind. 



" By Jove ! Fve slipped off! " he exclaimed, 

 and " suiting the action to the word," as 



