WHO IS TO RIDE HIM? 327 



other horse was only permitted to lead on suffer- 

 ance. 



Turn where you will, the same look of intense 

 excitement is discernible on every countenance ; 

 the vast mass surges to and fro, the hoarse murmur 

 of the frenzied multitude has something unearthly 

 in it. 



" The Irish horse wins, — Guardsman wins ! " is 

 shouted on all sides. The horses come up closely 

 locked together ; never moving on his horse Bradon 

 sits as quiet as a statue, but the heels of the other 

 horseman are at work ; the whip arm is raised, but 

 just as it is the strain on Guardsman's jaws is 

 relaxed, and the noble horse, without the slightest 

 effort, quits the other, and is landed an easy winner 

 by some half-dozen lengths. 



" There," said Lord Plunger, heaving a vast sigh, 

 which seemed to relieve him immensely ; " did you 

 ever see such a horse, and such a bit of riding ? " 



His lordship is not calm now ; there is a wild 

 feverish light in his eyes ; he trembles, too, slightly ; 

 a bright hectic spot is on either cheek, and the 

 veins in his temples are swollen, and seem ready to 

 burst as he takes off his hat to draw his hand 

 across his clammy brow. 



" Thank God ! " he muttered, as he turned to 

 meet his friend, who was returning to the weighing- 



