120 . THE DEAD HEAT 



ting me off altogether. I've five hundred on it on 

 my own account. I'll give a hundred and scratch 

 it." 



" Quite impossible," said the Colonel ; " you know 

 I can't do it. I am really very sorry for you ? but 

 stay, there is yet one way, and if I can manage it 



the race may yet come off. D , who has the 



writ out against you, does the wine for the mess. 

 Now, will you agree to this — that if you win, I pay 

 him the four hundred and the balance to yourself ? 

 If you do not win you shall be exactly in the same 

 position you are now, namely, locked up in your 

 own house." 



" Tare an' ages, a capital idea ! Colonel, I agree." 

 And it was forthwith signed and sealed between 

 them. 



" I'll send out to you in an hour," said the 

 Colonel, as he took his departure. " I will write 

 and tell you how it is to be, race or no race. 

 Depend on me ; I'll do all I can." 



The Colonel succeeded, and the terms he men- 

 tioned w^ere acceded to by D , who thought it 



was his only chance of ever getting a farthing. 



" Hang it, gentlemen," said the light-hearted old 

 officer, " we could have got the money without a 

 race ; but I should not have liked it said of the 

 regiment that we took any advantage. Now, win 



