A Lucky Mistake 221 



' Yes, doesn't he ? What '11 heat you ? ' the owner 

 asked, not, perhaps, having a very high regard for the 

 jockey's opinion ; but it is none the less interesting to 

 hear what people are thinking and saying. 



' Well, sir, they're very sweet upon the favourite, but I 

 never thought she was much of a mare, though she isn't 

 badly in. If it's a slow-run race, St. Christopher might 

 run well, but he doesn't get the course. 1 don't know^ 

 that we've got much call to be afraid of anything.' 



' The horse is very well, Sam,' Dow^ns said quietly, 

 after looking round and w^aiting till one lingerer who 

 was within earshot, pretending not to listen, with his ears 

 busily pricked all the time, had walked away abashed. 

 'I think he's sure to win— at least I can't see what's 

 to beat him. You knoW' he'll stay. If there's a good 

 pace, lay up with the leaders ; if there isn't, bring them 

 along. We don't want to muddle on and then have St. 

 Christopher beat us for speed in the run in.' 



Sam Leighton nodded a sort of indication that St. 

 Christopher should be w^ell stretched out if he had to do 

 it himself, and was then put up on his horse. 



' Good luck to you, Leighton ; I'm very anxious to win 

 this race,' Cranleigh said, as the jockey gathered up his 

 reins and felt his irons. ' You'll do the best you can, I 

 know.' 



'Yes, sir. I'd like to win it for you,' he said, as he 

 followed on out of the paddock, and the friends turned, 

 after a nod to the trainer, to go to their places. 



* I wonder what Smith's done for us,' Ashdown 

 said, as they walked towards the club enclosure. * Do 

 you think we could find him ? ' 



* No,' Cranleigh answered, ' I should think it's 

 doubtful. We'll look in the ring ; but he may be in the 



