126 TALES OF PINK AXD SILK. 



" I can just remember weighing in, and the clerk of the 

 scales pronouncing me ' all right/ when Hodgson dashed in 

 with his saddle on his arm. 



" ' Has he drawn the weight ? ' he asked. 



" * Yes, Mr. Hodgson/ said Hartopp. ' Why ? ' 



" ' Oh, nothing/ replied the other, looking scared. ' I 

 thought someone said he hadn't.' 



" ' Now, old man,' said Hartopp, as I eagerly gulped down 

 a tumbler of champagne, ' I must tell you that I have sacked 

 your groom, so we must see to your traps ourselves.' 



" ' Sacked Morton ! ' I exclaimed. ' What on earth do you 

 mean ? ' 



" ' When I came on the course to-day, I saw Hodgson and 

 that bright young man in close confabulation. Noticed that 

 something passed from the former's hand to the latter's ; 

 thought there was something up, so decided to keep my eye 

 on both. I wondered why my man Dale was not there to 

 saddle The Camel, but I said nothing. Your astute young 

 gentleman had sent him on a wild goose chase to look for me, 

 and he only turned up as you left the paddock. Moreover, I 

 was just quick enough to see Morton abstract a pound weight 

 from your weight-cloth, and slip it under the rugs on the 

 ground. I took it from under them when I sent him for 

 another whip, having been careful enough to break yours, and 

 I managed to replace it unseen by anyone. Now you know 

 all about it.' 



" ' But by Gad ! ' he added, ' I shall never back you to ride 

 over a steeplechase course again. If you can't stop on The 

 Camel, you can't stop on any horse.' 



" And that's the history of my first and last steeplechase, 

 boys. Hodgson paid up all right, but I never saw him or 

 Morton again, and poor Hartopp dying while I was in India, 

 I have never been to Stonebridge since/' 



