54 STABLE SECEETS. 



without fear of contradiction, speaking as he did only to his 

 inward man, " Wait a bit." 



The time described as " a bit " was of short duration. 



The last words spoken by Mr. James Sloper to the spare, 

 bony figure in the wasp-like colours, as he bent forward in his 

 saddle to receive the final instructions, were, " Strangle 'em ! " 



To his inward man — for Puffy Doddles heard them as 

 distinctly as words that were ever spoken within the reach of 

 his hearing — Robert Top's best lad repeated, " Strangle 'em ! " 



Then there was a roar, " They 're off." 



The bell clanged again. 



" Hats off ! " was thundered. 



" Here they come." 



" Sunshine leads." 



" Merry wins." 



" Sir Joseph wins." 



" Sunshine," screamed a single voice, so shrill and clear that 

 it was heard far above the general din, " Sunshine wins ! " 



This was the fiat shrieked by Puffy Doddles, in anticipation 

 of that given by the judge. 



Sunshine had " strangled 'em ! " 



CHAPTER X. 



The public now possessed one of those few results, in antici- 

 pation, which might be regarded as "a booked certainty" 

 recorded by Nemesis. The forthcoming St. Leger being among 

 Sunshine's engagements, public running proved, beyond the 

 shadow of a doubt in the minds of the most sceptical, that not 

 a horse in the race had a chance with the colt by Glitter, dam 

 Comet, by Falling Star. Pit at the post, and nothing could 

 beat him. Such was the confident opinion expressed by the 

 cosmopolite "everybody" — let it be repeated — that "nothing 

 could beat him." 



