CAPTAIN BLEATEB'S COUP. 15 



of defeat, for his liorse is a superb jumper, and a class better 

 than anything else in the race. 



" That's Bleater, George," says Charlie Daventry to his 

 friend, " that good-looking chap there. But come on one side 

 a minute. There's a screw loose, old man, but I think we can 

 fix it all right. Now, don't trouble about Bleater at all, but 

 confine yourself to beating the other two. I think you can 

 easily do that ; and if he does come in first, lodge an objection 

 on the ground that the horse is not Tom Bowling." 



" Not Tom Bowling ! What on earth do you mean ? " 



" What I say. But I shall be at hand if necessary, and 

 don't forget to beat the others. The mare has dropped back 

 to threes, at which price I have put a fiver on, and now I 

 must get you loaded up." 



In the preliminary canter Tom Bowling makes a host of 

 friends, his fine sweeping stride and the way he jumps the 

 hurdle catching the eye of many a good judge ; while Captain 

 Bleater, who is really a fine horseman, handles him like a 

 jockey. "They're off! ' is the cry, and the primrose and 

 crimson of Woldsman's jockey is soon seen showing the way 

 to Dublin's green and gold and the light blue of The Gaiety 

 Girl, while Captain Bleater in white and brown spots is 

 whipping in, and they are all close together when they pass 

 the stand for the first time, Tom Bowling fencing in perfect 

 style. And now The Gaiety Girl forges ahead, and Captain 

 Bleater draivs into third place. He is in ecstasy, having just 

 " taken a feeler," and believes it to be " all over bar shouting." 



" Ah, Tom Bowling's down ! No ! Yes, he is ! The Gaiety 

 Girl wins, for a hundred ! " Only too true. The Screw — to 

 give him his proper name — blunders at the open ditch (the best 

 of horses make mistakes sometimes), tries to recover himself, 

 his rider sitting like wax all the time ; but the effort is futile, 

 and he rolls over on his shoulder. Captain Bleater, who has 

 not lost hold of the reins, is on his feet in an instant, and 



