EOOKS AND PIGEONS. 143 



" Yes, sir. Just joined in as you drew the 

 cover back of my farm, and then came down to 

 sit a bit and bear tbe news." 



"What is the news ? It's some time since 

 I've been down, you know ? What's going 

 on ? " Swaynton asked. 



"Well, sir, you know the Eoyal Southern 

 Cup's been run for to-day, and we're waiting for 

 the winner of that," Eutters answered. 



"What's going to win it?" Swaynton's 

 friend, Charlie Summers, joined in. 



" Why, sir, we've always fancied Ladybird, 

 but a man that's generally right' — wonderful 

 right he is, to be sure — has a fancy for Bomb- 

 shell, and we're afraid that Bombshell may have 

 done it. News'll come in a few minutes. 

 Wonderful right he is," Butters added, for 

 Stubson had grunted at the statement. 



"And you've been backing Ladybird? I 

 should think you are not far wrong. Bombshell 

 is Bidding's horse, isn't it?" Swaynton con- 

 tinued, turning to his friend. 



" Yes. I don't fancy you have much to fear 

 from Bombshell," Summers said, turning to the 

 group of smokers round the hospitable-looking 

 hearth. " Lord Bielding told me last week he 

 did not think his chance was a very good one if 

 Ladybird and Earl Marshall stood up." 



