120 SPORTING STORIES 



see the big heaps of stones and the thimble-men arming 

 themselves with the legs of their tables, very handy and 

 effective weapons in a hand-to-hand fight. Hoots and 

 yells began to fill the air. The spectators, clustered upon 

 the Grand Stand and every available coign of vantage, began 

 to get nervous, and a very serious riot seemed impending. 



The leaders of the attacking forces consulted together, 

 and it was resolved to try to effect an entrance to the 

 Town Field by a smaller opening opposite the back of the 

 Grand Stand. Simultaneously with this strategic move- 

 ment of the mounted men, the police made a determined 

 assault upon the field-gate. But whilst the thimble-men 

 were engaged in front they left their rear exposed ; a party 

 of mounted men took them in the flank, and another in the 

 rear. The barricade was broken down, and there was a 

 hot fight for a few minutes ; sticks and stones were flying 

 in all directions, but a well-timed charge settled the 

 business. The thimble-men broke and fled. Several of 

 the ring-leaders were captured on the spot ; the rest made 

 for the open country. 



And then came the amusing part of the scene. The 

 horsemen gave chase to the nimble fugitives. Lord Milton 

 and the grooms and hunt servants from Wentworth were 

 conspicuous in the pursuit. They kept well together, 

 took the fences in splendid style, and brought their game 

 to hand in most sportsman-like fashion. The gardens 

 behind the Deaf and Dumb Institution afforded good 

 cover to the hunted thimble-men, but they were hustled 

 out in fine style. In vain they doubled and dodged, hid 

 in ditches, and crawled through fences. No fence or ditch 

 could stop the gallant sportsmen who were chasing them. 

 By this time, too, the spectators, finding the thimble-men 

 were getting the worst of it and that there was not much 

 chance of having their own skins hurt, bravely joined in 

 the fun, and helped to catch the flying thieves. Such a 

 scene of excitement and diversion was never witnessed on 

 a race-course before or since. Finally, when the victors 

 gathered to count up the spoils, they found that they had 

 taken some hundred and fifty prisoners. A big caravan 

 was chartered, and the captives were sent off in relays 



