HARK FORRARD! 121 



^ True for you,' answered Reginald. ' But, 

 joking apart, if you really are anxious that I 

 should keep this horse in lavender for a big 

 steeplechase, I will. He is as much yours as 

 mine.' 



' My dear fellow, hunt him fairly bang 

 through the season, or at all events until the 

 first of March ; that will give him six weeks to 

 the Grand National Hunt, and I know you want 

 to win that with him. Besides, if you do break 

 him down or lame him, it can't be helped, and 

 we are neither of us paupers.' 



^ All right, old man, I will ; but I will always 

 ride him first horse, and give him every chance. 

 He would not owe us anything if he cracked 

 to-morrow though, would he ? ' 



'No, by Jove ! What dufiers we were not 

 to pile it on ; we could have won another one 

 thousand dollars, easy.' 



* A thousand ! Ah, more like five thousand. 

 They were beggars to gamble in Virginia, 

 weren't they ? ' 

 . . Here a big sigh was simultaneously heaved 



