Part 49 (1/2)

'Wonderful!' said Dr Tom; 'but it will lose him the race.'

'If Grey Bird wins now it will be the most sensational finish I have ever seen,' said Mr Dauntsey.

Jim Dennis made no reply. He saw what had happened and he felt his hopes of securing Cudgegong were extinguished for some time to come.

His disappointment was, however, mitigated by his son's superb riding, and he felt proud of 'the little chap' and hoped for the best. Tatters fell back beaten and Grey Bird pa.s.sed him on the outside.

Defiance on the rails was a length or more to the good, and Willie was handicapped by the broken leather. He stuck to his work, and Grey Bird quickly made up the lost ground. Jack Ashton was certain of success now and took matters easily.

He little thought Grey Bird and the 'up-country imp' were coming on the outside at a great rate.

Bung Bung had put in a brilliant run and was close up with Jim Dennis's horse. Target was not beaten, and Hurley was riding him out for a place.

Willie heard the deafening shouts, and so did Grey Bird, and horse and rider were encouraged by the applause which many affect to despise but secretly rejoice at in their hearts.

Jack Ashton received a shock when he was sure of a win.

He suddenly saw a yellow jacket on his left hand, and then he caught sight of the pink-and-white of Bung Bung's jockey.

Had these horses dropped from the clouds? That country chap too, was he a good rider, a worthy rival after all? He could hardly believe it, but the indisputable evidence of his eyes convinced him. That yellow jacket was not only visible, it was level with him for a moment, and then he had not to look sideways to see it, for it was slightly ahead, and the pink-and-white was level with him.

Seldom had Jack Ashton received such a startler. He rode Defiance for all he was worth, and got every ounce out of the horse. The gallant top weight ran a game as his name indicated he would. Defiance defied defeat until his strength was exhausted. The great horse was giving away 'lumps of weight' to Bung Bung and Grey Bird, and he did his level best to enhance his reputation.

Amidst a tornado of maddening cheers and cries the trio raced neck and neck. The white, the yellow, and the pink, seemed hopelessly mixed together, and they could not be separated.

Jim Dennis held his breath and caught hold of Dr Tom's arm.

Dr Tom emitted a sound somewhat resembling a groan, so intense was his anxiety, and to relieve the tension grasped Mr Dauntsey's arm, until the worthy magistrate winced in spite of the excitement he was under.

So great was the struggle, such a powerful effect had it on the dense ma.s.s of people that they had barely enough breath left to shout.

Willie saw the judge's box, he saw the head of Defiance on one side, his red nostrils glowing like coals, his eyes starting out, his neck outstretched, and heard the gallant horse's breath coming in sobs and gasps.

On the other side was the head of Bung Bung, who was equally done up, and whose eyes had a dull, beaten look in them.

He saw the head of Grey Bird was slightly in front of the other two heads, and, by a great effort, he lifted the grey forward and shot him past the post--a winner by a neck; and Bung Bung just beat Defiance by a head for second place.

The scene which followed baffles description.

As Jim Dennis led in the beautiful grey tumultuous cheering rent the air.

'Bravo, young un!' 'Well ridden!' 'He's lost a stirrup!' 'Great riding, by Jove!' 'Hurrah for the little chap!' this last from the excited Dr Tom.

Smiling in triumph, Willie dismounted, unbuckled the saddle-girths and went to weigh in.

The scale _would not go down_.

'Fetch the bridle,' said Willie.