WINNING IX A WALK. 91 



the Low, and why, and wherefore. "Was it a robbery, a cross, 

 a swindle, a do, or, if not, what was it, or how otherwise 1 " 

 To state that Puny Doddles was mobbed as he returned to 

 scale ; to say that hisses, groans, and maledictions fell upon his 

 ears on every side, would feebly convey the expression of public 

 opinion against him. . Men appeared to vie with each other in 

 giving vent to their anger and disappointment, and ill, indeed, 

 would it have fared with Robert Top's best lad had a tithe of 

 the torments been inflicted which were suggested for his imme- 

 diate punishment, for losing the Grand Duke Michael Stakes 

 — the greatest certainty that was ever known. 



"What have you to say for 3^ourself?" asked Mr. James 

 Sloper in a voice husky with passion, as Puffy Doddles dis- 

 mounted with one of the most rueful visages ever possessed by 

 a losing jockey, young or old. 



Pobert Top's best lad looked appealingly at his employer, but 

 only shook his head with a sad and almost despairing gesture. 



" What made you stop him on the post 1 " shouted Mr. 

 James Sloper, with an expression of countenance closely assimi- 

 lating to that of a cat caught between the iron teeth of a 

 strong trap. 



" I — I — I " stammered Puffy Doddles ; but he could 



proceed no further. 



" You what 1 " hissed his employer. 



" Thought to win in a walk, sir," added Itobert Top's best 

 lad, bursting into a flood of tears which, from its violence, might 

 come under the definition of "blubbering," and nothing less. 



" Win in a walk ! " sneered Mr. James Sloper, with a clenched 

 fist itching to increase the tears now rolling fast, and as big as 

 peas, down the cheeks of the broken-hearted Puffy Doddles. 

 " Win in a walk ! " repeated he. " Were not your orders to 

 * cut their throats ? ' " 



"Well, sir!" expostulated Robert Top's best lad, and 

 screwing a bent knuckle into the corner of each eye, " 1 — I — 

 I thought I had cut their throats. I didn't see the be^ar on 

 the near side." 



