Settling Day, Nat Gould [phonics reading books .txt] 📗

a dashing move at anyrate, and worth trying for.'

Neptune, however, was not quite equal to the task, for Jackson saw what Willie meant to try and accomplish, and sent The Captain along at such a pace that it was impossible for Neptune to draw clear of him. This run, brilliant as it was, gave Neptune an advantage, even if it didn't accomplish all Willie had intended.

The pace, for the end of a two-mile race, was terrific, and there was soon a long tail in the rear.

Jackson had been pushing The Captain for some time and it commenced to tell upon him.

Madsley noticed this, and thought he had the race as good as won, but he could not get rid of either The Captain or Neptune. The green jacket was so conspicuous that Rodney Shaw became excited at the prospect of winning and commenced to shout the name of his horse. He was standing not far from Jim Dennis, who, hearing him, turned round and said,—

'Neptune beats yours for fifty.'

'Done,' said Shaw, 'a hundred if you like.'

'No, fifty will do,' said Jim.

'I'll have the other fifty,' said Aaron Hyam, and Shaw accepted it.

The yellow jacket was now almost level with the green and the black; close behind came Scamp, Wamba and Dingo. The issue was confined to this lot.

The crowd shouted until they were hoarse.

'The Captain's beaten!'

It was an ominous sound, and Abe Dalton smothered an oath as he looked and saw Jackson hard at work upon his horse. Still The Captain struggled on and answered gallantly, and Dalton thought he might just get home. Whips were out, and Ben Madsley was calling vigorously upon Distant Shore.

On the outside, nearly in the middle of the course, was Neptune, coming along with giant strides, and Willie sitting still upon him.

At this critical moment the shouts of the crowd, the intense excitement of a desperate finish, caused his head to swim, and he felt faint. He nerved himself for a last effort. He must not fail now when the goal was nearly reached, and Neptune looked all over a winner.

The excitement was tremendous. Never had such a finish been seen at Swamp Creek, and the people surged and swayed in their frantic desire to see the end of this great struggle.

Sympathy was with Willie Dennis. He was such a youngster, and so small, and had ridden such a splendid race. Then Jim Dennis was popular, and neither Abe Dalton nor Rodney Shaw possessed much of this. So the crowd yelled, and waved hats and handkerchiefs, and the name of Neptune echoed far and wide.

'Neptune wins!' 'Bravo, little un!' 'Neptune wins!'

'The Captain's done!'

Abe Dalton clenched his hands and set his teeth. The Captain was the first of the three leaders to crack, and, despite every effort on the part of Jackson, fell back. Dalton showered a torrent of oaths on the people round him. He cursed Jackson and cursed his horse, and well-nigh choked with rage, but no one heeded him, they were too intent upon the race.

Rodney Shaw was almost frantic as he shouted the name of his horse until his throat felt sore.

Jim Dennis seemed unmoved, but he was seething with intense excitement, hidden beneath a calm exterior.

As for Willie, he hardly knew where he was or what he was doing. The blow he had received caused his head to ache painfully, and a dimness came over his eyes, and he only saw faintly.

He saw a mass of people swaying to and fro, like phantoms in a mist. There was a surging in his ears and a tight feeling at his heart, but he held on like grim death, and rode Neptune for all he was worth. In a hazy sort of way he saw the judge's box, then he fancied he caught sight of his father's set face, but he knew that could hardly be true.

Everything was jumbled up in his mind, and the only thing he recollected afterwards with distinctness was that the green jacket was still level with him and Ben Madsley was riding desperately.

'Distant Shore!' 'Neptune!'

'Neptune wins!' 'Distant Shore wins!'

These were the sounds he heard, in a dull sort of way, and he wondered what it all meant.

He kept his eyes fixed on that green jacket. Would it never leave? Why could he not shake it off? It seemed to dance before his eyes, to be first on one side and then on the other, and a white cap on top, bobbing up and down like a ball. He seemed to be flying through the air, and he knew Neptune was going at a great pace; the horse could do no better, no matter what he did or how he rode, and he sat perfectly still. Had he moved he believed he would have fallen off.

It was all for the best that he could not move, for, had he done so, Neptune might have shirked his work. There was no shirking now, and again and again the ringing cheers proclaimed that Jim Dennis's horse would win. At last, amid a perfect roar of exciting shouts, the pair passed the post almost neck and neck.

Which had won?

The yellow or the green?

Ben Madsley thought Distant Shore had just struggled home in front, but he was not sure.

As for Willie Dennis, he indistinctly recollected that the judge's box was passed, and therefore the race must be over, and with an effort he pulled Neptune up and turned him round. He did not know whether he had won or not, but the crowd did, for Neptune's number had been hoisted, and the judge's verdict was a short head.

'What a great race the lad rode,' said Adye Dauntsey. 'He's a little wonder, Jim. You must take him to Sydney. He sat as still as a mouse.'

Jim Dennis hurried across to lead his horse in, followed by Dr Tom and an excited crowd of people.

'Well done, Willie,' said Jim, and then, catching sight of his son's face, he trembled all over. Willie was pale as death and looked straight before him with wide, staring eyes.

Dr Tom came up, and, seeing the lad's state, said,—

'He'll hardly be able to weigh in, Jim. Hold on fast, Willie,' he said. 'You must not fail us now; that will never do. You have won the race. Do you hear me? Neptune's won!'

The lad smiled faintly and nodded.

'I'm all right now, Dr Tom,' he said in a dull voice.

CHAPTER XIX

SAL AT WORK

He staggered as he got out of the saddle, and in a mechanical way unbuckled the straps. Then he walked into the weighing-room with his father and Dr Tom, one on each side.

He scaled all right, and there was another deafening cheer.

When the tension relaxed, and he knew everything was right, and that he had done what had been asked of him, he fainted.

It quickly got about that Willie Dennis was in a bad way, and some people said the race had been too much for him, and that it was a shame for his father to let him ride.

When Dr Tom heard such remarks, he could no longer refrain from speaking out, and said indignantly,—

'If you knew the cause of this fainting fit you would not talk like that. There's been foul play somewhere, and I don't care who knows it now the race is over.'

'Foul play? What do you mean, doctor?' said Aaron Hyam.

'Listen, and I will tell you. Last night Jim Dennis and myself went to your place and left Willie at home. When we returned, we found him insensible on the floor, and he had received a violent blow on the back of the head. Some scoundrel, I suppose, who had laid against Neptune, did it, but we mean to find out the culprit.'

There was an angry murmur at this, for the Swamp Creek people knew and trusted Dr Tom, and they hated foul play.

They were standing inside Aaron Hyam's booth, and Abe Dalton heard what passed, but he knew he had little cause to fear, because no one had seen him enter Dr Tom's. Constable Doonan was also there, and said to Dr Tom, 'Have you repeated this to Sergeant Machinson?'

'No, but the police magistrate knows; and he saw Willie Dennis early this morning and felt the lump on his head.'

Sergeant Machinson, seeing the crowd gathered in the booth, came up and asked what was the matter.

'Matter enough,' said Dr Tom. 'Willie Dennis was attacked last night and hit over the head. I hope you will make inquiries into the matter.' Then, catching sight of Abe Dalton, Dr Tom said, 'Perhaps Dalton can lay his hand on the man who did it. He's about as likely a person as anyone I know for that job. They have some shady fellows hanging around Barker's Creek.'

'You let me alone,' said Abe Dalton, menacingly. 'What right have you to make such accusations against me?'

'The right every honest man has to think ill of a thief,' said Dr Tom, boldly.

'You shall pay for this,' said Dalton.

Constable Doonan put his hand on Abe Dalton's shoulder and said,—

'I saw you coming from the direction of Dr Sheridan's house last night. Be careful what you say and do.'

'And who the devil are you that I should be afraid of you? Can't a man walk about the street without being suspected of such a thing as this? Wait until your betters speak to me,' said Dalton.

'I think you had better let the matter rest for the present,' said Sergeant Machinson to Dr Tom. 'I will see every inquiry is made.'

'Mind you do,' said the doctor, who had a temper when it was roused. 'Mind you do, and don't forget to call at Barker's Creek for information.'

'I know my work, and need no instructions from you,' said the sergeant, and walked away. The doctor's statement was soon known, and sympathy was expressed for Jim Dennis and his son.

Willie, the hero of the town, was taken to a comfortable buggy, and Jim Dennis was about to remove him from the course when the lad recovered and opened his eyes.

'Are you better now?' asked his father.

'Yes,' said Willie, faintly. 'Please do not take me home; it will do me good to watch the other races.'

'If you think you can stand it, we will remain.'

'I'll be all right, dad. It was more the excitement of the race than anything else upset me.'

When Sal saw Neptune battling out the finish with Distant Shore she rushed down towards the crowd to find out which horse had won.

As she did so she encountered Rodney Shaw, who stopped her and said,—

'Where are you going? You seem to be in a hurry, Sal.'

'Has Willie won? Has he won? Please tell me, Mr Shaw.'

'Yes, he has beaten me and won the race; at least the judge says so. I think my horse won,' he replied.

Sal clapped her hands in delight, and her eyes sparkled. She really looked a handsome woman at that moment, and so thought Rodney Shaw as he saw her hurry away in her eager desire to find Willie.

'I'll have her,' he muttered. 'Abe Dalton must do the trick. He can manage it, and he shall.' The look on his face was not pleasant to see.

Sal knew nothing of race-courses, and had only been to Swamp Creek three or four times.

She was helpless, and blundered about in the crowd until, by good chance, she came across Constable Doonan. She at once recognised a friend, and recalled what Willie had told her Doonan had said about her.

The constable recognised her, and was surprised to see her in such a place.

'Where is Willie?' she asked. 'Please tell me where I can find him. Mr Shaw told me he had won the race.'

'Mr Shaw!' said Constable Doonan. 'Have you been with him?'

'I met