Volume I Part 11 (1/2)

It is an anxious moment. Both horses are seen locked closely together.

But the strain on Screwdriver's jaw is relaxed, and Fortescue is seen to shake him up; the whip hand is at work, and they pa.s.s the post abreast. The Colonel dashes off, as does the sly little man, and a host of others.

”What is it?” said the Colonel, as he galloped up.

”A DEAD HEAT,” replied the judge.

The sly little man smiles grimly as he hears these words.

”Is Charles hurt, papa?” said the beautiful occupant of the Master of Gwynne's carriage, opening her eyes languidly, as she rose from her faint.

”No, dearest; cut a little, I believe. It is a dead heat.”

Both horses were now returning to scale.

”Dead heat?” said the Captain. ”Well, we must run it off in an hour. I won't give in.”

”Hurt, sir?” inquired old Mason, as he took hold of the old horse's bridle and led him back.

”A bit of a cut on the forehead,” returned Fortescue, ”that is all.

Captain O'Rooney pulled his mare round at the wall--little cad!”

”A scoundrel's trick,” said the Colonel.

Fortescue goes to weigh in first.

”All right, sir,” said the man in charge of the scales.

The Captain now approaches, saddle and saddle-cloths in hand, and seats himself.

”Eleven stone eleven,” said he of the scales, looking at them intently.

”Three pounds short, Captain.”

”What?” yelled out O'Rooney. ”Look again, man, look again!”

”Eleven stone eleven,” replied the clerk.

”Give me my bridle!” roared the Captain. ”What the h--ll is the matter?”

”Ay, give him his bridle!” said the sly-looking little man; ”he can claim a pound for it; but that won't make him right. Look at your saddle-cloth, sir. You will see it has burst and a three-pounds lead gone. You did it at the big water-jump the second time, and I picked it up. Here it is.”

Cheer after cheer rent the air as the fact was announced. The soldiers, of course, went almost frantic.

”Here, come away,” said Lord Plunger and Bradon, seizing Charley's arm, ”Get away as quickly as you can. There will be a row. Your horse has already gone, with seventy or eighty of our men with him. You rode the race splendidly, old fellow!”

”That he did,” said the sly-looking little man.

The Captain had lost the race. He was short by two pounds, allowing him one for his bridle. The scene of confusion that followed was indescribable.