268 Making the Running 



Admiral, in orange and white stripes, Western on Carna- 

 tion, in green and black hoops, went on side by side, 

 swinging easily along, but now twenty lengths behind 

 the leader ; and so they passed the railway gates, and 

 turned the corner. 



' They'll never catch her ! ' ' You wait and see ! ' 

 were the remarks that came from watchers on the stand ; 

 and Cecil's hopes began to revive, while Stebbing seized 

 the opportunity of murmuring, ' What did I tell you ? ' 

 though he had quite made up his mind what was now 

 about to happen. Western, however, began to grow a 

 little nervous. 



' Hadn't you better get on and close up ? ' he cried, 

 as they galloped side by side. ' She'll take some catch- 

 ing.' 



' Lots of time. I don't want to win half a mile. 

 She'll stop going up the hill, and I shall be there,' 

 Bedford answered. 



' Well, get on a bit, at any rate,' Western returned. 



' You pull back a bit,' Bedford said ; ' this brute lays 

 hold so when you're alongside,' and Western somewhat 

 reluctantly complied. 



' Now the favourite's coming up ! ' was the cry 

 from the stand, for Port Admiral seemed to be leaving 

 Carnation ; but still Chimney Corner's red jacket was a 

 dozen lengths to the good. 



Soon, however. Port Admiral began to creep up. He 

 was evidently catching the other, and catching her 

 pretty fast ; but by this time the beginning of the stands 

 was reached, and there was not much farther to go. 



' The favourite wins ! The favourite walks in ! ' 

 shouts an enthusiast who has had a plunge on Port 

 Admiral, and believes that his money is as good as 



