The Great Downshire Handicap 79 



man gave him a little bottle and told him to put it in the 

 horse's water ; he said it wouldn't show and wouldn't 

 kill the horse, but it couldn't win if he took it, and then 

 I knew something wrong was going on, and I didn't 

 know what to do, for Mr. Chattress had left home, and 

 I didn't know who to tell. I was thinking about what 

 I ought to do all the afternoon, and just before tea-time 

 I saw Barrick hang up his jacket in our room. There 

 was no one else about, the boys were all on the cricket 

 ground, so I went to his pocket and took out the little 

 bottle and emptied the stuff away — it was just like water 

 — and filled it again at the bucket. I thought he'd be 

 sure to think it was the stuff he had been given, and it 

 would not do any harm, and when Mr. Chattress came 

 back I told him. I was sorry to get Barrick into trouble, 

 but ' 



' Trouble, by Jove ! The infernal young scoundrel 

 ought to be hung,' Howard ejaculated. 



'Yes. He didn't wait to give me the chance of 

 talking to him,' Chattress said. * I've got a lovely ash 

 stick that would have done him a world of good if I'd 

 caught him ; but he was off, and I've not heard of him 

 since.' 



' Well, my boy,' Cecil said, ' you've shown that you've 

 got your wits about you, and I'm very pleased, as I'm 

 sure Mr. Chattress is.' 



' The mouse and the lion ! ' Howard put in. 



' A very sharp little mouse indeed,' Cecil said, and 

 went on, ' Now, my boy, you've done more good than 

 you know, and we're more than pleased with you. Tell 

 me, what do you want most in the world ? ' 



' To ride a race, sir ! ' Hughes exclaimed without 

 hesitation. 



