AN OFF CHANCE. 211 



certainty for Eed Eonald — the party have 

 backed him. Tom says Osprey has no chance, 

 and Mavis less than none ; and yet Wynnerly 

 has got some game on." 



"I am as much in the dark as you are," 

 Atherton replied. '' I thought at first that 

 there must be something wrong about the entry 

 of Eed Eonald, something about the weights, 

 or the description, and that they hoped to 

 disqualify him. But that can't be it. I've 

 been over it, and when I mentioned it to Tom 

 he said he was sure it was all right. There's no 

 one in the forfeit list connected with the horse. 

 No. It's too much for me. Look ! There 

 they go over the hill. That's McQeorge's trap, 

 I suppose. Yes, there he is. They're off!" 



As he spoke, the flag fell, and off went the 

 three horses, looking small in the distance on 

 the opposite hill a little to the left of the stand 

 — a steep declivity, with an abrupt rise on the 

 other side, lay between the stands and the start- 

 ing-post for the Cup course, which was over a 

 distance of two miles, the field having to run 

 over ground in shape something like the half of 

 an oval. 



" Wynnerly is making the running for 

 Osprey," Flutterton said, watching attentively. 



" Yes, quite right ; and he's coming along at 



