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Updated: May 2, 2025
He added with a snort: "Thought I were a copper's nark. Good as told me so." Joses stole down the gangway to the door. When he came back Monkey was holding the bucket to Four-Pound-the-Second, who was drinking noisily. "It was only the cat," he said. "I heard her scuttle." "Don't it smell funny?" whispered Monkey, swirling the bucket gently under the horse's muzzle.
Then he limped away down the gangway, behind sleeping horses, into the loose-box at the end where stood Four-Pound-the-Second. Carefully he closed the door behind the young man and put his lantern down. "See, you thought I was on the crook, didn't you, sir?" he said ironically, pursing his eye-lids. "So you are," replied the young man. Monkey wagged his head sententiously.
"The first question that arises h'out of h'our lesson to-day," she began quietly, "is this 'ere 'What price Four-Pound-the-Second? Now think afore you answers, there's good little fellers." It was Jerry who held up his hand. The girl pointed at him. "You there, Jerry me boy." "Depends on who rides him, Mrs. Chukkers," he said. There was a deadly silence.
"Put the dog on the lead, Albert," ordered the girl, trotting back. She and Jerry tried again, cantering past the rebel, calling and coaxing. Four-Pound-the-Second went marching round in a circle, champing at his bit, thrashing with his tail, and every now and then flinging a make-believe buck, as much as to say: "I could throw you if I would, but I won't, because I like you too much."
They passed into the Paddock Close, stealing softly over the turf, the wood moving gently on their right in the darkness. He came looming up beside her. "Boy," he said deeply. It was the first time he had dared. "Yes," she answered, and her voice trembled ever so little. "Will you share something besides Four-Pound-the-Second?" "What?" "Everything." The moon caught her.
Thoroughly human, a vulgar sense of superiority kept his temper sweet. He accepted Four-Pound-the-Second as one to whom he might extend his patronage and his protection. And once this was understood the relations between the foal and the dog were established on a sound basis, while Maudie watched with a sardonic smile.
He took the chalk and wrote up in sprawling letters on the board: Bible Class. First Question. What price Four-Pound-the-Second, Grand National? Instantly there was a hub-bub, from which the words "Hundred to one" came with insistent force. "Hundred to one," said the lecturer. "Thank you, genelmen." He proceeded to write. Second Question. Any takers? "Yus," said the lofty Stanley.
The little jockey, now in the saddle, obeyed. Four-Pound-the-Second shook his head and, blowing his nose, strode round with that wonderful swing from the hocks which made Mr. Haggard once say that the horse walked like a Highland regiment marching to the pipes. "He's on C springs," said Mat, watching critically.
Joses patted the drinking horse. "There's the beauty," he said. "Suck it down. It'll give you pleasant dreams." Four-Pound-the-Second had his fill by now and moved away. Joses picked up his twitch and made for the door. Monkey placed himself between the fat man and the exit, heavy-lidded, stertorous, and menacing. "One thing," he said. "What's that?"
"I was a bit put out, I think," answered the other. They dropped down the hill into the Paddock Close, graying faintly in the dusk. Boy's high spirits were pouring back on her in merry little rivulets, all the readier to brim their banks for having been dammed so long. "Come and see Four-Pound-the-Second," she cried, and led away along the hillside at a trot.
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