A Sportsman at Large 173 



than a little knowledge of the ancient sport of coursing. Just 

 before the train started Messrs. Thomas and Morgan entered 

 the van and produced a sumptuous repast of liver and suet 

 pudding for the " benefit " of the old dog, who, having been 

 kept on short commons for twenty-four hours, " wolfed " the 

 lot voraciously, whilst young Dazzling Magic looked on, 

 slavering at the lips and licking his chops enviously ! Then 

 the two cronies left their precious ones with the guard and 

 retreated to their " third smoker." 



All went well until the card was called over for " long odds " 

 on the Cup. As usual the public froze on to their undefeated 

 favourite, Old Tuppenny, but only in silver and an occasional 

 sovereign. Messrs. Thomas and Morgan sat tight, and when 

 the name of Dazzling Magic was called they made no sign. 

 He was on offer at 30 to i. There were no takers ! Suddenly 

 the guard of the train (who had an afternoon off) butted in 

 and offered fifty sovereigns to one against the puppy. The 

 confederates stared at him in undisguised surprise, but 

 snapped up the bet. Immediately the price shortened again 

 to 30 to i. A certain commissioner then got busy and took 

 300 to 10, followed by 250 to 10 ; whereupon " the book " 

 dried up, and 5 to i was the best offer. Morgan, just for 

 appearances' sake, took five fivers Dazzling Magic. If subse- 

 quently Messrs. Thomas and Morgan could have been seen 

 totting up with their agent, the public might have been 

 enlightened, but the checking of bets was carried out in strict 

 seclusion, and there was still plenty of the public's money for 

 its old favourite. 



Now as luck would have it, Old Tuppenny and Dazzling 

 Magic were drawn together. They were slipped to a stout 

 hare ; but to the dismay of their owners jointly and severally 

 the first-named stretched out with a good lead and reached 

 his hare quite three lengths in front. Coming well round with 

 " puss," he ran his course in his very best form, and ended it 

 with a smart kill. The puppy never had a look in, and pulled 

 up in a state of dire distress. 



Messrs. Thomas and Morgan were thunderstruck and hope- 

 lessly disgruntled. What on earth had happened to upset 

 their nefarious plans ? They chanced across Sid Richards. 



