The Great Downshire Handicap 75 



retriever. Hough once more in quiet tones assured him 

 that there could be no possible mistake. 



' The boy daren't deceive us, we know too much 

 about him,' he replied in defence of Barrick's bad faith. 

 ' He'd rather make a bit on the cross than on the square, 

 and how's he going to get a hundred any other way ? 

 No, you bet your bottom dollar that the job's done, and 

 you know that the stuti' doesn't fail. There the young 

 devil is.' 



Barrick was indeed close at hand, and all eyes being 

 turned towards the starting-post he gave his accomplices 

 a knowing wink. 



' They're off ! ' was now the cry, and Cecil, giving his 

 glasses a last turn to try and improve the focus, watched 

 with pale face and set lips. 



' Flood Tide's bringing them along ; by Jove, they're 

 going a rattler ! ' Cecil cries as he follows the fortunes of 

 the race. * Old Boatman's dropping back and Black's 

 taking a pull at the favourite. The boy can't hold Billet. 

 But look how Dick's horse is sweeping along with them ! 

 If there's anything wrong with him I like them that 

 way ! ' 



Fortunatus was indeed going with the utmost ease, 

 lying third, Billet having rushed past him; Puzzle at 

 his quarters. 



* She's going well,' Hough says, without, however, 

 much conviction in his voice, for he sees what his associ- 

 ate Scully puts into words : 



* So's that other devil, a d d sight better than I 



like to see him.' 



He is, indeed, going just as well as possible, for now 

 nearly a mile has been covered. Flood Tide's bolt is 

 shot ; Billet, too, is growing very tired of running away ; 



