Ax Over-reach 331 



' Well, he certainly didn't deserve to win ; but there 

 it is. Let's go and see him,' Skene continued, and they 

 hurried from their places to go round and meet the 

 triumphant jockey on his return to the scale. 



Harry was blowing like a grampus, more from ex- 

 citement than want of condition, as he sat in the saddle 

 by the weighing-room door, realising the delightful fact 

 that he had won a race at last — actually, and no mistake 

 about it, won — and that, too, after a desperate fight wdth 

 probably the most accomplished — if least respectable — 

 of all possible adversaries. When he slid from his horse, 

 his fingers trembled so much that he could hardly 

 unbuckle the girths. 



* Weh, old chap, you rode like a demon — a somewhat 

 wild and injudicious demon, perhaps — but you got there 

 all the same, and that's the great thing, after all ! ' 

 Addington said to him, patting him on the shoulder. 



' Yes, at last, old boy, but I thought he'd done me,' 

 Harry answered jubilantly. ' Of course I know you're 

 going to say I started riding too soon, but you don't 

 know how awful it is to have that fellow stealing up- 

 behind you, and how it makes you want to get home ! ' 



' You'll buy the old horse in, I suppose ? ' Skene said, 

 in a low tone, as he walked into the weighing-room with 

 the saddle-laden victor. 



' Buy him in ? I should think so, after winning on 

 him ! Would you mind bidding for me ? ' 



' What win you give ? Let's see, he cost you 240, 

 didn't he ? ' 



'Yes; but I wouldn't let him go for twice that, 

 though I'm not flush just now, and I had only a tenner 

 on. He must have come on, you know, a lot. A head 

 better than Hamlet ! and, of course, I know that 



