Defiance, the favourite, had been mobbed by the people, and his trainer was glad the ordeal was over.

The roar of the ring could be heard and the hoa.r.s.e shouting of the odds.

There had been several ups and downs in the market, and Grey Bird again touched twenty to one, so many men, after looking him over, deciding to 'save' on him.

Jim Dennis met Chris Shaw as he walked towards the stand. Shaw had backed Target to win him a good stake and was sanguine of success.

'What chance has Grey Bird?' he said to Jim.

'I advise you to have a trifle on at the odds; but of course you have backed your own horse.'

'Yes, and he'll run well. I think I will have a score on yours. Are you going for a big stake?'

'Big for me. I have an object in view.'

'What is it?'

'Cudgegong,' laughed Jim.

'By Jove, you shall have it! I'm sick and tired of it, and can make better use of the money. I hope you beat me, upon my word I do,' said Chris Shaw.

'I shall not be able to pay all the cash down--'

'Never mind that. You will work it off. How much do you stand to win on Grey Bird?'

'About twelve thousand.'

'Then you shall have Cudgegong for that amount of cash down if you win.'

'It is very kind of you,' said Jim.

'Not at all. You are doing me a kindness by taking it off my hands,' and he hurried away after a friend.

Jim Dennis had not expected this, and it made him more anxious to win.

He walked across the ring and joined Mr Dauntsey and Dr Tom. The horses were pa.s.sing in the preliminary canter with Target leading.

'That's Chris Shaw's horse,' said Dr Tom. 'I trust you will lower those colours like you did at Swamp Creek.'

'I have just left Mr Shaw and he hopes the same thing,' said Jim.

'Surely he has no desire to be beaten,' said Mr Dauntsey.

'He wants me to win,' said Jim. 'He has promised to let me have Cudgegong for twelve thousand down, and said he hoped Grey Bird would win, so that I could take it off his hands.'

'They are a rum lot, these Shaws,' was Dr Tom's comment.

'Here we are! By Jove, look at him! What a horse! Willie sits him as firm as a rock,' said Mr Dauntsey as Grey Bird swept past amidst a murmur of admiration from the crowd.

'No horse went better,' said Jim, as the last of the eighteen runners galloped past.

'I have a spare fiver,' said Dr Tom, 'I'll risk a bit more,' and away he went into the ring. 'I had a job to get a hundred to five,' he said on his return. 'He will start at a shorter price than that. I heard Chris Shaw back him.'

Mr Dauntsey also stood to win a fair amount, and thought it nothing derogatory to his position to do so.

Some delay took place at the post, and this told against the heavy weights.

Willie did not mean to be jostled out of his position by the local jockeys, who seemed to regard him with a certain amount of contempt.

Frighten him they could not, as they quickly discovered.

'Now, then, pull out!' said Jack Ashton, as he tried to force Defiance between Grey Bird and the rails.

Willie took no notice of him.

'Pull out, you country-bred imp! Do you hear me?' yelled Ashton in a rage.

Still Willie made no answer; but he thought,--

'If I get alongside you at the finish I'll show you what a country-bred imp can do!'

'Go back, Ashton!' shouted the starter. 'The lad's in his right place.

You can't have it all your own way.'

Jack Ashton had given the starter a lot of trouble at different times, and that official was glad of a chance to rebuke him. He also admired Willie's pluck and patience.

'That little beggar sha'n't be left if I can help it,' he said to himself.

Ashton was in a furious pa.s.sion. Being the crack jockey, and on the favourite, he thought he ought to do as he pleased.

Target was next to Grey Bird, and Hurley, his jockey, said to Willie,--

'I'm glad you held your own with him. He's a bully. It doesn't matter much to you, because you don't often ride against him, but with us chaps it's different. He's a dangerous beggar. You steer clear of him in the race or he'll like as not drive you over the rails.'

'Thanks,' said Willie. 'It is very good of you to tell me. I'll keep a sharp lookout.'

In another minute the flag was lowered and the lot went off to a very fair start.

CHAPTER XXIX

A GLORIOUS VICTORY

Grey Bird being a thorough stayer, Willie determined to make the most of his light weight, but the horse was not a quick beginner, and when fairly in his stride half the field was ahead of him.

Tatters, a six-stone chance with a smart light-weight named Jones in the saddle, made the running at a great pace, and so had a lead of many lengths. In a cl.u.s.ter came half-a-dozen more, then Defiance and Target, with Grey Bird on the rails behind them.