loped forward. A loud
shout, and a perfect shower of whips on the mare's quarter from
the bystanders, put all question of pulling up beyond the reach of
possibility. In a minute more I was at the wall, and, ere I well knew,
over it. A few seconds after, the blue-jacket was beside me. "Well done,
my lad! You've earned twenty guineas if I win the race! Lead the way a
bit, and let your mare choose her ground when she leaps." This was all
he said; but such words of encouragement never fell on my ears before.

[Illustration: 0089]

Before us were the others, now reduced to three in number, and evidently
holding their stride and watching each other, never for a moment
suspecting that the most feared competitor was fast creeping up behind
them. One fence separated us, and over this I led again, sitting my mare
with all the composure of an old steeplechaser. "Out of the way, now!"
cried my companion, "and let _me_ at them!" and he tore past me at a
tremendous pace, shouting out, as he went by the rest, "Come along, my
lads! I 'll show the way!"

And so he did! With all their efforts, and they were bold ones, they
never overtook him afterwards. His mare took each fence flying, and as
her speed was much greater than the others', she came in full half a
minute in advance. The others arrived all together, crest fallen and
disappointed, and, like all beaten men, receiving the most insulting
comments from the mob, who are somewhat keen critics on misfortune. I
came last, for I had dropped behind when I was ordered; but, unable
to extricate my mare from the crowd, was compelled to ride the whole
distance with the rest. If the losing horsemen were hooted and laughed
at, _my_ approach was a kind of triumphal entry. "There's the chap that
led over the wall! That little fellow rode the best of them all!" "See
that ragged boy on the small mare; he could beat the field this minute!"

"'T is fifty guineas in goold ye ought to have, my chap!" said
another,--a sentiment the unwashed on all sides seemed most heartily to
subscribe to.

"Be my soul, I 'd rather be lookin' at him than the gentlemen!" said a
very tattered individual, with a coat like a transparency. These, and
a hundred similar comments, fell like hail-drops around; and I believe
that in my momentary triumph I actually forgot all the dangers and
perils of my offence.

It is a great occasion for rejoicing among the men of rags and
wretchedness when a member of their own ord