WHO IS TO RIDE HIM? 315 



this case, and to-morrow, if I do not knock them 

 out of the betting it shall not be my fault." 



So it was settled between them all over their 

 wine and cigars that Bradon's horses should be set 

 at on the morrow and sent out of market. 



They were attacked, and such extravagant sums 

 laid against them that astonished every one, many 

 of which odds were booked by Lord Plunger and a 

 few others. 



How this came about we will now explain. 

 Lord Plunger, as before stated, thought George 

 P> radon " the finest cross-country rider in Europe," 

 and from a letter which Bradon sent in confidence 

 to his lordship, he started for France. Here Bradon 

 put him up to what was going on, and asked him to 

 take some of the heavy odds offered against Guards- 

 man " to win and a place." 



" I won't have anything to do with it myself," 

 remarked George. " You are a betting- man, 

 Plunger, which I am not ; but I will have one more 

 shy, hit or miss. This will be my last appearance 

 in public in the pigskin. I don't admire the way 

 in which matters are carried on in the racing world 

 now ; and I am not going to risk my fortune and 

 reputation in having any more to do with it. Of 

 course there are honest people connected with it, 

 but they — like angels' visits — are few and far be- 



