58 TALES OF PINK AND SILK. 



Grantham, and promised to keep him busy till eleven 

 o'clock. I suppose there's no other way but to nobble the 

 'oss, but I don't half like it." 



" Rot ! " replied the other. '' We tried that young fool 

 that is to ride him, but he won't bite, and there's no other 

 way. Besides, you'll get two hundred for the job." 



They heard the key turn in the lock, then Talbot, 

 peeping round the corner, saw the two men disappear into 

 the box, from which came the sound of a horse rapidly rising 

 to his feet. 



" AVoa, 'oss," said a voice. " Now, then. Bill, strike a 

 light. I've got the twitch ready." 



Talbot had a stout ash stick in his hand, but Morgan had 

 nothing but a thin riding cane, so he softly retraced his steps 

 to pick up a thin iron bar which he remembered having 

 seen lying at the foot of a wall, and then rapidly rejoined 

 his companion. 



"Now, then, Will," said Talbot, "you take the smaller 

 man, and I'll come to you as soon as I've finished with mine. 

 Are you ready ? Off, then ! " 



The two men in the box were completely taken by 

 surprise, and after a short struggle Talbot had his opponent 

 stretched out insensible, and then he turned to see how it 

 fared with Morgan. Badly, it turned out, for at that moment 

 the man had hurled the young jockey staggering against the 

 wall, and was making a bolt for the door just as the clergy- 

 man threw himself upon him. The ruffian was no match for 

 his burly opponent, who soon had him on his back in a half- 

 strangled condition. Tying their hands and feet with neck- 

 ties, braces and string, Talbot left Morgan to watch over them 

 with the iron bar in his hand, while he w^ent into the house 

 to interview the trainer. 



" Give them a tap on the head if they venture to move," 

 he said. " We must catch the other rascal if possible." 



