io6 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



the farther side of the track. Rosicrucian almost 

 scraped the blackboard opposite. In the early 

 stages of the race the latter ran with the main 

 body, but afterwards bore away to the left. 

 How the judge could tell what had happened I 

 really don't know. Sitting on my hack, I watched 

 the race from a point opposite the winning-post 

 on the farther side of the course, and I thought 

 Rosicrucian had won easily, just as Huxtable, 

 who rode him, did. I cantered away to meet 

 Huxtable as he was returning to the paddock. 

 ** Well,** I said to him, " how did he carry you ? ** 

 ** Oh! " he replied jauntily, ** I won in a canter 

 by about six lengths.'* "Did you indeed!** 

 was my rejoinder; "then you'll be surprised to 

 learn that the judge says Green Sleeve beat you 

 a head.** Huxtable was so taken aback that he 

 nearly fell off his horse. He was neither the 

 first nor the last jockey to be deceived when 

 riding at Newmarket. There can be little 

 doubt that Rosicrucian ought to have won, 

 for, on Huxtable*s own admission, he was by 

 no means " all out.** However, it did not 

 matter much, seeing that Sir Joseph *s bet was 

 safe if either of his candidates was first past the 

 post. There was, of course, much " weeping 

 and wailing ** in the Danebury camp, the more 

 so because Lady Elizabeth had handicapped 

 herself by making a slow beginning. She and 

 Formosa were close behind Lady Coventry at 



