THE DEAD HEAT 113 



come to your diggings this evening with me to give 

 you a help. So mt revoir till mess-time, when you 

 will see yours truly ; " and putting his horse at a 

 five-foot wall, he sent him over, hurling the loose 

 stones behind him in a cloud, and was quickly out 

 of sight. 



" So your friend has gone," said the gallant 

 Colonel, as Fortescue walked his horse up to a host 

 of his brother-officers and friends assembled in a 

 knot on the hill, amongst which several strangers 

 were distinguishable. 



" Yes," replied Fortescue, carelessly, " he will be 

 with us at mess. Here, take the horse home. 

 Forester " — to his man — " see no one comes near 

 him." 



" That's a horse to back," said a sly-looking little 

 man in a large drab overcoat ; and coming up to 

 Fortescue he whispered quietly to him : " I'm on 

 your nag for a plumper. I keep my own counsel, 

 and shall not split. 1 never come except wdth a 

 rush at the last minute. My glasses are good. 

 You've had a spin with one of the best cross-country 

 horses in England. Clever and fast as that nag is, 

 he can't give you seven pounds. You ran him to a 

 length or two. I know George Bradon and Guards- 

 man well. I've won a pot full of money on them 

 before. There, don't look scared ; you are a young- 



