CCEUR-DE-LION. 43 



Captain Joy, and complained bitterly that they were 

 done out of their expected benefit. He soothed their 

 fears as Irishmen will do, and they returned to their 

 quarters well assured that the morrow was to be " their 

 dayout," and that Coeur-de-Iion was to enjoy an "airing" 

 for the down country handicaps. That evening they went 

 to the lotteries, backed Ranelagh for a hatful of money 

 for the Trial Stakes, one mile, and came away delighted 

 with themselves ; especially as the buyer in the lotteries 

 and backer of the big chestnut was an officer of the 

 7th Hussars, who was entirely unconnected with Cap- 

 tain Joy's stable. The morning brought reflection, and 

 then arose the burning question in their minds : why 

 should a man whom they never knew before to have 

 bet a rupee on a horse-race, have backed Coeur-de-lion 

 for so much money ? The thought was intolerable, so off 

 they went to Captain Joy and asked that the meaning 

 of this parable might be expounded unto them. " Faith, 

 Ranelagh will have to gallop to win, and that's the long 

 and short of it," replied the genial Irishman. "You may 

 beat us, but you won't break us," was all they said, and 

 then they returned to their stable to prepare to bravely 

 face the sore defeat they felt sure was in store for them. 

 That accomplished horseman, good at need, Captain 



