320 WHO IS TO RIDE HIM ? 



" Are your horses here ? " said the sly-looking 

 little man. 



" Not yet," returned Bradon, " but they will be 

 by-and-by. Old Mason has got them stowed away 

 somewhere ; but upon my soul I don't know where 

 they are myself at present." 



" Which shall you declare to win with ? " asked 

 the sly-looking little man continuing his inter- 

 rogations. 



" Oh, with Guardsman," said George. 



" And your jocks ? " put in another. " All the 

 talent is engaged. A pity you are so heavy — why, 

 you've grown immense. You will want a dray- 

 horse to carry you soon." 



" Think I have ? " said George. " It's my coats, 

 man. Every fellow looks large with a couple of 

 top-coats on, and a huge-wrapper round his throat. 

 I know all the talent is engaged. One of my lads 

 will ride the gray." 



" I say, Bradon," put in another, " I heard you 

 weighed twelve stone five ; is that a fact ? " 



" Yes," said George ; " I put on sixteen pounds 

 in less than two years — an idle life at home did 

 for me." 



" But, Bradon," persisted the sly-looking little 

 man, " you say one of your lads is going to ride the 

 gray. But Guardsman — who is to ride Mm I" 



