138 HARK FORRARD! 



horse going, but Reginald had too much way 

 on for him, and landing a length behind him, 

 he shot past him, and won amidst great cheer- 

 ing by two lengths, with a bit to spare. As 

 Reginald turned round to ride back to the 

 paddock, he found himself surrounded by his 

 tenants, who fairly mobbed both horse and man, 

 and who signified their intention of carrying 

 him on their shoulders, and it was as much as 

 Purlby could do to prevent them from lifting 

 their master bodily out of the saddle. In fact 

 it was not till Reginald Miller explained to his 

 fat quartermaster that he would be disqualified 

 unless he rode the horse right up to the weigh- 

 ing-room and there dismounted, that he pre- 

 vailed upon them to desist. As may be ima- 

 gined great excitement reigned in the paddock, 

 and on all sides you heard such remarks as, 

 'Thundering hard lines for Mitchell — his horse 

 would have come clean away on the flat ; ' ' Not 

 he — Vittoria would have buried him for pace 

 at the finish.' 



^ Well,' piped an excitable little book- 



