A COMMOTION IN THE " RING." 69 



coming known that Sunshine had turned restive, and refused to 

 be even saddled, excepting by the stable lad having the charge 

 of him, and that such was the violent temper exhibited by the 

 colt that the jockey engaged to ride him had to be supplanted 

 by this boy, the odds from being five to four on the favourite, 

 taken freely, suddenly veered to two to one on the field." 



An eye-witness remarked that " Sunshine's backers looked 

 blue as indigo when the stable lad was ' put up/ instead of 

 one of the most accomplished riders of the day." 



Puffy Doddles, with features bearing the hue and tint of an 

 unhealthy turnip, sat in the saddle, nevertheless, with the grace 

 and ease that might have been expected from Robert Top's 

 best lad, and as he stooped forward to pat and caress the arched 

 neck of his horse, more than one practised eye and good judge 

 proclaimed that " the boy could ride." 



With hands down, and standing in his stirrups, so that the 

 horse swept beneath him in long, lurching strides, without 

 moving a bone, thew, or sinew of his frame, Puny Doddles 

 took the preliminary canter, and pulled up amidst a buzz of 

 admiration. 



" The boy could ride, and the horse went like a bird," was 

 the opinion of more than one practised eye and good judge. 



" Who put you on a race-'oss 1 " inquired one of the " old 

 school" of jockeys, "taking stock" of Sunshine and Robert 

 Top's best lad, with a sneer of contempt. 



"I'll let you know at the finish," was the spirited and 

 prompt reply of Puffy Doddles. 



" Let me know" at the finish !" repeated he of the " old school," 

 looking, at that moment, as if a most offensive smell had sud- 

 denly come " between the wind and his nobility." " Might as 

 well," continued he, "have put up so many stone o' cow 

 beef." 



Puffy Doddles felt what may be truly called savage at this 

 rejoinder ; but the responsibility of his position quickly dissi- 

 pated the sentiment, and, as he turned his horse to go to the 



