" CUT THEIR THROATS." 89 



" He said something, sir," replied Robert Top's best lad ; 

 u but I didn't hear exactly what." 



" I saw him lift three fingers, telegraphing about the beans," 

 observed Mr. James Sloper, laughing. 



"Yes, sir, he did," rejoined Puffy Doddles, "and I thought 

 I'd just lift three o' mine, as a sort of answer." 



" Quite right," returned Mr. James Sloper. " I have heard 

 of talking with the fingers. Why not chaff with them 1 " 



As was anticipated, a small field appeared only as competi- 

 tors for the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, and the whole of the 

 several horses coming to the post had been "run through," either 

 directly or indirectly, by Sunshine. No wonder, then, that the 

 followers of the stable should look upon the anticipated result 

 as a foregone conclusion. ISTo wonder, then, that long odds 

 should be laid upon Sunshine's winning, and scarcely less wonder, 

 perhaps, that Mr. James Sloper should treat the race, in giving 

 directions for the manner in which " the crack " was to be 

 ridden, as " a certainty." 



" Take the lead, make strong running, and " 



Puffy Doddles bent low, towards his near stirrup iron, to 

 hear the finish of the sentence. 



" Cut their throats," concluded Mr. James Sloper. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Sunshine supported the character he possessed of being "a 

 good beginner," by jumping off with the lead, and making the 

 running so strong that but a short distance of the one mile, 

 two furlongs, and seventy- three yards, " Across the Flat," had 

 been accomplished, when it was announced by stentorian lungs 

 that " they would never catch him." On he skimmed like a 

 fleet-winged swallow, making the distance wider, at every stride, 

 between his haunches and the heads of his antagonists strug- 



