66 SPORTING STORIES 



Bee, one of these gamblers in petticoats ran up to him in 

 the Birdcage and begged him to tell her what was going to 

 win, as she wanted to put on a ten-pound note. Out of 

 mischief more than anything else he gave her Draycot, while 

 just before he had told the Captain to back his own mount, 

 Queen Bee. By one of those peculiar freaks of fortune which 

 the fickle goddess is fond of playing upon her votaries, 

 Draycot won by a head. Immediately afterwards the 

 delighted lady met the Captain, and told him of her good 

 luck ; and upon his asking who had given her the tip, she 

 answered, " Archer." Naturally, the Captain was in a rage, 

 and exclaimed, " Save me from my friends," in the jockey's 

 hearing. As Fred had lost ;^iooo by Dray cot's winning, 

 he was equally exasperated by the remark, and from this 

 misunderstanding an ill-feeling sprang up between them, 

 which, however, might have blown over but for Archer's 

 tragic death not long afterwards. 



Among the many good stories current about the famous 

 " Tinman," I give the following which may be new to some 

 of my readers. When Fred Archer was savaged by Lord 

 Falmouth's horse, Muley Edris, he was advised to see Sir 

 James Paget. That eminent surgeon, having examined and 

 dressed the wound. Archer requested to know how long it 

 would take to heal. 



" Oh," said Sir James, " I think in three or four weeks 

 you will be all right." 



" But shall I be fit for the Derby ? " asked Archer. 



"Ye-es," was the reply, "oh yes ; I think you may go 

 to the Derby." 



"No, but you don't quite understand me. Sir James," 

 persisted the jockey. " I mean, shall I be fit to ride ? " 



" Well, I don't know," was the answer. " Better drive ; 

 better drive " 



Archer, rather taken aback by this innocent and unex- 

 pected rejoinder, had to explain. " I'm afraid, sir, you 

 scarcely realise who I am ? " 



" No," said the surgeon politely, referring to the patient's 

 visiting-card. " I see I have the honour of receiving Mr 

 Archer, but " 



" Well," said Archer, " I suppose I may say that what you 



