BOB HAMILTON'S MAIDEN BAGE. 123 



to hounds. However, I had done it now, and must put up 

 with the consequences. 



" * There is one thing I must insist on, Hamilton,' said my 

 host. 'As the result depends to no small extent on the 

 behaviour of my horse, I shall stand half of the £50 stake, and 

 I am ready to take some fancy bets, too. Hodgson, will you 

 bet me £200 to £100 that Hamilton does not beat you ? ' 



" ' Done,' said Hodgson, whipping out his pocket book. ' I'll 

 have that too, if you'll lay it me,' said I. * Good,' said Hodgson ; 

 ' will anyone else ? ' No one seemed inclined to accept his 

 offer, so with increasing boldness he turned to me : ' If you 

 are keen to back yourself, I'll bet you £50 to £25 you fall off 

 before you get half round the course, and an even tenner you 

 come off at the first fence.' 



" ' Very well,' said I, ' I'll take you.' 



" ' So will I,' said Hartopp. 



" After that things simmered down a bit, and in a short 

 tune we took ourselves off to bed. Hartopp tapped at my 

 door on his way up to his room; his was a bachelor 

 establishment. 



" ' May I come in ? ' he said. 



" ' Certainly,' I replied. ' A nice mess you've got me into, 

 old man." 



" ' Not at all,' he replied. ' We'll give Master Hodgson a 

 lesson that he won't forget in in a hurry, and one that will take 

 some of the brag out of him.' 



" ' Why, my good fellow, much as I value the opinion you 

 have of my capabilities — and I myself have but poor hopes 

 of ever getting round the course — I don't want you to lose 

 your money in that foolish way. Besides, can The Camel 

 beat Limerick ? ' 



" ' Give him a two stone and a beating,' replied Hartopp ; 

 ' he won no end of races in Ireland before I bought him ; he 

 jumps like oil, and a child could not fall otf him.' 



