I did not awake till past noon the next day, and had only completed
my dressing when Major Mahon made his appearance. Having pronounced my
costume accurate, and suggested that instead of carrying my racing-cap
in my hat I should tie the string round my neck and let it hang down in
front, he assisted me on with my greatcoat, in which, notwithstanding
that the season was summer, and the day a hot one, he buttoned me up to
the chin and down to the knees.
'There, now,' said he, 'you look mighty like the thing. Where's your
whip? We have no time to lose, so jump into the tax-cart, and let us be
off.'
As my reader may remember, the race-ground lay about a mile from the
town; but the road thither, unlike the peaceful quiet of the preceding
night, was now thronged with people on foot and horseback. Vehicles,
too, of every description were there--barouches and landaus,
hack-chaises, buggies, and jaunting-cars, whiskys, noddies, and, in
fact, every species of conveyance pronounced capable of rolling upon its
wheels, was put into requisition. Nor was the turn-out of cavalry of a
character less mixed. Horses of every shape and colour--some fat from
grass; others lean, like anatomical specimens; old and young; the
rich and the poor; the high-sheriff of the county, with his flashy
four-in-hand; the mendicant on his crutches--all pressed eagerly
forward. And as I surveyed the motley mass I felt what pleasure I could
take in the scene, were I not engaged as a principal performer.
On reaching the course we found it already occupied by numerous
brilliant equipages, and a strong cavalcade of horsemen; of these
the greater number were well mounted, and amused themselves and the
bystanders by leaping the various fences around--a species of pastime
which occasionally afforded food for laughter, many a soiled coat and
broken hat attesting the colour and consistence of the clayey ground.
There were also refreshment-booths, stalls for gaming on a humble scale,
tables laid out with beer, hard eggs, and gingerbread--in a word, all
the ordinary and extraordinary preparations which accompany any great
assemblage of people whose object is amusement.
A temporary railing of wood, rudely and hastily put together, inclosed
a little space reserved as a weighing-stand; here the stewards of the
course were assembled, along with 'the dons' of the country; and into
this privileged sanctum was I introduced by the Major, in due form. All
eyes were turned on me as I entered; and whether from the guardianship
of him who acted as my chaperon, or that the costume of my coat and
overalls had propitiated their favour, I cannot say; but somehow I
felt that there was more courtesy in their looks, and an air of greater
civility in their bearing, than I had remarked the preceding day at the
Town-hall. True, these were, for the most part, men of better stamp--the
real gentry of the country--who, devotedly attached to field-sports, had
come, not as betting characters, but to witness a race. Several of them
took off their hats as I approached, and saluted me with politeness.
While returning their courtesy, I felt my arm gently touched, and on
looking around perceived Mr. Dillon, of Mount Brown, who, with a look
of most cordial greeting, and an outstretched hand, presented himself
before me.
'You 'll dine with us, Mr. Hinton, I hope?' said he. 'No apology, pray.
You shall not lose the hall, for my girls insist on going to it, so
that we can all come in together. There, now, that is settled. Will
you permit me to introduce you to a few of my friends? Here's Mr. Barry
Connolly wishes much to know you. You 'll pardon me, Mr. Hinton, but
your name is so familiar to me through my niece, I forget that we are
not old acquaintances.'
So saying, the little man took my arm and led me about through the
crowd, introducing me right and left. Of the names, the rank, and the
residences of my new friends, I knew as much as I did of the domestic
arrangements of the King of Congo; but one thing I can vouch for--more
unbounded civility and hospitable attention never did man receive. One
gentleman begged me to spend a few days with him at his shooting-lodge
in the mountains--another wanted to make up a coursing-party for me--a
third volunteered to mount me if I'd come down in the hunting season;
one and all gave me most positive assurance that if I remained in the
country I should neither lack bed nor board for many a day to come.
But a few days before, and in my ignorance I had set down this same
class as rude, underbred, and uncivilised; and had I left the country on
the preceding evening, I should have carried away my prejudices with
me. The bare imitation of his better that the squireen presents was the
source of this blunder; the spurious currency had, by its false glitter,
deteriorated the sterling coin in my esteem; but now I could detect the
counterfeit from the genuine metal.
'The ladies are on this side,' said Mr. Dillon. 'Shall we make our bow
to them?'
'You'll not have time, Dillon,' said a friend who overheard his remark:
'here come the horses.'
As he spoke, a distant cheer rose from the bottom of the hill, which,
gradually taken up by those nearer, grew louder and louder, till it
filled the very air.
'What is it?' said I eagerly.
'It's Jug of Punch,' said a person beside me. 'The mare was bred in the
neighbourhood, and excites a great interest among the country-people.'
The crowd now fell back rapidly, and Mr. Burke, seated in a high tandem,
dashed up to the weighing-stand, and, giving the reins to his servant,
sprang to the ground. His costume was a loose coat of coarse drab cloth,
beset on every side by pockets of various shapes and dimensions; long
gaiters of the same material incased his legs, and the memorable white
hat, set most rakishly on his head, completed his equipment.
Scarcely had he put foot to the ground when he was surrounded by a
number of his obsequious followers; but, paying little or no attention
to their proffered civilities, he brushed rudely through them, and
walked straight up to where I was standing. There was an air of
swaggering insolence in his manner which could not be mistaken; and I
could mark that, in the sidelong glance he threw about him, he intended
that our colloquy should be for the public ear. Nodding familiarly,
while he touched his hat with one finger, he addressed me.
'Good-morning, sir; I am happy to have met you so soon. There is a
report that we are to have no race: may I ask you if there be any ground
for it?'
'Not so far as I am concerned,' replied I, in a tone of quiet
indifference.
'At least,' resumed he, 'there would seem some colour for the rumour.
Your horse is not here--I understand he has not left the stable--and
your groom is among the crowd below. I only asked the question, as it
affects my betting-book; there are doubtless here many gentlemen among
your friends who would wish to back you.'
This was said with an air of sneering mockery so palpable as to call
forth an approving titter from the throng of satellites at his back.
Without deigning any reply to his observation, I whispered a few words
to the Major, who at once, taking a horse from a farmer, threw himself
into the saddle and cantered off to the mill.
'In fifteen minutes the time will be up,' said Mr. Burke, producing his
watch. 'Isn't that so, Dillon? You are the judge here.'
'Perfectly correct,' replied the little man, with a hasty confused
manner that showed me in what awe he stood of his redoubted relative.
'Then in that time I shall call on you to give the word to start; for
I believe the conditions require me to ride over the course, with or
without a competitor.'
So saying, Mr Burke proceeded leisurely to unbutton his greatcoat,
which, with the assistance of his friends, he drew off. Two sedulous
familiars were meanwhile unbuttoning his gaiters, and in a few seconds
he stood forth what even my most prejudiced judgment could not deny--the
very beau-ideal of a gentleman-rider. His jacket, of black and yellow,
bore the stains of more than one race; but his whole carriage, not less
than his costume, looked like one who felt every inch the jockey. His
mare was led within the ropes to be saddled--a proceeding conducted
under his own eye, and every step of which he watched with critical
nicety. This done, he sat down upon a bench, and, with watch in hand,
seemed to count the minutes as they flew past.
'Here we are! here we are! all right, Hinton!' shouted the Major, as
he galloped up the hill. 'Jump into the scale, my lad; your saddle is
beside you. Don't lose a moment.'
'Yes, off with your coat,' said another, 'and jump in!'
Divesting myself of my outer garments with a speed not second to that
of Mr. Burke, I took my saddle under my arm, and seated myself in the
scale. The groom fortunately had left nothing undone, and my saddle
being leaded to the required weight, the operation took not a minute.
'Saddle now as quickly as you can,' whispered Dillon; 'for Burke, being
overweight, won't get into the scale.'
While he was yet speaking, the gallant grey was led in, covered with
clothing from head to tail.
'All was quite right,' said Mahon, in a low whisper--'your horse won't
bear a crowd, and the groom kept him stabled to the last moment. You are
in luck besides,' continued he: 'they say he is in a good temper this
morning--and, indeed, he walked up from the mill as gently as a lamb.'
'Mount, gentlemen!' cried Mr. Dillon, as, with watch in hand, he
ascended a little platform in front of the weighing-stand.
I had but time to throw one glance at my horse when the Major gave me
his hand to lift me into the saddle.
'After you, sir,' said Mr. Burke, with a mock politeness, as he drew
back to permit me to pass out first.
I touched my horse gently with the snaffle, but he stood stock-still; I
essayed again, but with no better success. The place was too crowded to
permit of any attempt to bully him, so I once more tried gentle
means. It was of no use--he stood rooted to the ground. Before I could
determine what next to do, Mahon sprang forward and took him by
the head, when the animal walked quietly forward without a show of
restiveness.
'He's a droll devil,' said the groom, 'and in one of his odd humours
this morning, for that's what I never saw him do before.'
I could see as I passed out that this little scene, short as it was, had
not impressed the bystanders with any exalted notion of my horsemanship;
for although there was nothing actually to condemn, my first step did
not seem to augur well. Having led me forth before the stand, the
Major pointed with his finger to the line of country before me, and was
repeating the priest's injunctions, when Mr. Burke rode up to my side,
and, with a smile of very peculiar meaning, said--
'Are you ready _now_, sir?'
I nodded assent. The Major let go the bridle.
'We are all ready, Dillon!' cried Burke, turning in his saddle.
'All ready!' repeated Dillon; 'then away!'
As he spoke, the hell rang, and off we went.
For about thirty yards we cantered side by side--the grey horse keeping
stroke with the other, and not betraying the slightest evidence of bad
temper. Whatever my own surprise, the amazement of Burke was beyond all
bounds. He turned completely round in his saddle to look, and I could
see, in the workings of his features, the distrustful expression of
one who suspected he had been duped. Meanwhile, the cheers of the vast
multitude pealed high on every side; and, as the thought flashed across
me that I might still acquit myself with credit, my courage rose, and I
gripped my saddle with double energy.
At the foot of the slope there was, as I have already mentioned, a
small fence; towards this we were now approaching at the easy sling of
a hand-gallop, when suddenly Burke's features--which I watched from
time to time with intense anxiety--changed their expression of doubt and
suspicion for a look of triumphant malice. Putting spurs to his horse,
he sprang a couple of lengths in advance, and rode madly at the fence;
the grey stretched out to follow, and already was I preparing for the
leap, when Burke, who had now reached the fence, suddenly swerved his
horse round, and, affecting to baulk, cantered back towards the hill.
The manoeuvre was perfectly successful. My horse, who up to that moment
was going on well, threw his forelegs far out, and came to a dead stop.
In an instant the trick was palpable to my senses; and, in the heat of
my passion, I dashed in both spurs, and endeavoured to lift him by the
rein. Scarcely had I done so, when, as if the very ground beneath had
jerked us upwards, he sprang into the air, dashing his head forward
between the forelegs, and throwing up his haunches behind, till I
thought we should come clean over in the somersault. I kept my seat,
however; and thinking that boldness alone could do at such a moment, I
only waited till he reached the ground, when I again drove the spurs up
to the rowels in his flanks. With a snort of passion he bounded madly
up, and pawing the air for some moments with his forelegs, lit upon the
earth, panting with rage, and trembling in every limb.
[Illustration: 305]
The shouts which now filled my ears seemed but like mockery and
derision; and stung almost to madness, I fixed myself in my seat, pulled
my cap upon my brows, and with clenched teeth gathered up the reins to
renew the conflict. There was a pause now for a few seconds; both horse
and man seemed to feel that there was a deadly strife before them, and
each seemed to collect his energy for the blow. The moment came; and
driving in the spurs with all my force, I struck him with the whip
between the ears. With something like a yell, the savage animal sprang
into the air, writhing his body like a fish. Bound after bound he made,
as though goaded on to madness; and, at length, after several fruitless
efforts to unseat me, he dashed straight upwards, struck out with his
forelegs, poised for a second or two, and then with a crash fell back
upon me, rolling me to the ground, bruised, stunned, and senseless.
How long this state lasted I cannot tell; but when half consciousness
returned to me, I found myself standing in the field, my head reeling
with the shock, my clothes torn and ragged. My horse was standing beside
me, with some one at his head; while another, whose voice I thought I
could recognise, called out--
'Get up, man, get up! you 'll do the thing well yet. There, don't lose
time.'
'No, no,' said another voice, 'it's a shame; the poor fellow is half
killed already--and there, don't you see Burke's at the second fence?'
Thus much I heard, amid the confusion around me; but more I know not.
The next moment I was in the saddle, with only sense enough left to
feel reckless to desperation. I cried out to leave the way, and turned
towards the fence.
A tremendous cut of a whip fell upon the horse's quarter from some one
behind, and, like a shell from a mortar, he leaped wildly out. With one
fly he cleared the fence, dashed across the field, and, before I was
firm in my seat, was over the second ditch. Burke had barely time to
look round him ere I had passed. He knew that the horse was away with
me, but he also knew his bottom, and that, if I could but keep my
saddle, the chances were now in my favour.
Then commenced a terrible struggle. In advance of him, about four
lengths, I took everything before me, my horse flying straight as an
arrow. I dared not turn my head, but I could mark that Burke was making
every effort to get before me. We were now approaching a tall hedge,
beyond which lay the deep ground of which the priest had already spoken.
So long as the fences presented nothing of height, the tremendous pace
I was going was all in my favour; but now there was fully five feet of a
hedge standing before me. Unable to collect himself, my horse came
with his full force against it, and chesting the tangled branches, fell
head-foremost into the field. Springing to my legs unhurt, I lifted him
at once; but ere I could remount, Burke came bounding over the hedge,
and lit safely beside me. With a grin of malice he turned one look
towards me, and dashed on.
For some seconds my horse was so stunned he could scarcely move, and as
I pressed him forward the heavy action of his shoulder and his drooping
head almost filled me with despair. By degrees, however, he warmed
up and got into his stride. Before me, and nearly a hundred yards
in advance, rode Burke, still keeping up his pace, but skirting the
headlands to my right. I saw now the force of the priest's remark, that
were I to take a straight line through the deep ground the race was
still in my favour. But dare I do so with a horse so dead beat as mine
was? The thought was quick as lightning; it was my only chance to win,
and I resolved to take it. Plunging into the soft and marshy ground
before me, I fixed my eye upon the blue flag which marked the course.
At this moment Burke turned and saw me, and I could perceive that he
immediately slackened his pace. Yes, thought I, he thinks I am pounded;
but it is not come to that yet. In fact, my horse was improving at every
stride, and although the ground was trying, his breeding began to tell,
and I could feel that he had plenty of running still in him. Affecting,
however, to lift him at every stroke, and seeming to labour to help him
through, I induced Burke to hold in, until I gradually crept up to the
fence before he was within several lengths of it. The grey no sooner
caught sight of the wall than he pricked up his ears and rushed towards
it; with a vigorous lift I popped him over, without touching a stone.
Burke followed in splendid style, and in an instant was alongside of me.
Now began the race in right earnest. The cunning of his craft could
avail him little here, except as regarded the superior management of his
own horse; so Burke, abandoning every ruse, rode manfully on. As for
me, my courage rose at every moment; and so far from feeling any fear,
I only wished that the fences were larger; and like a gambler who would
ruin his adversary at one throw, I would have taken a precipice if he
pledged himself to follow. For some fields we rode within a few yards of
each other, side by side, each man lifting his horse at the same moment
to his leap, and alighting with the same shock beyond it. Already our
heads were turned homewards, and I could mark on the distant hill the
far-off crowds whose echoing shouts came floating towards us. But one
fence of any consequence remained; that was the large gripe that formed
the last of the race. We had cleared a low stone wall, and now entered
the field that led to the great leap. It was evident that Burke's horse,
both from being spared the shocks that mine had met with, and from
his better riding, was the fresher of the two; we had neither of us,
however, much to boast of on that score, and perhaps at a calmer moment
would have little fancied facing such a leap as that before us. It
was evident that the first over must win; and as each man measured
the other's stride, the intense anxiety of the moment nearly rose to
madness.
From the instant of entering the field I had marked out with my eye
where I meant to take the leap. Burke had evidently done this also; and
we now slightly diverged, each to his allotted spot. The pace was awful.
All thought of danger lost, or forgotten, we came nearer and nearer with
knitted brow and clenched lip--I, the first. Already I was on the side;
with a loud cry and a cut of my whip I rose my horse to it. The noble
beast sprang forward, but his strength was spent, and he fell downwards
on his head. Recovering him without losing my seat, I scrambled up the
opposite bank and looked round. Burke, who had pressed the pace so hotly
before, had only done so to blow my horse and break him down at his
leap; and I saw him now approaching the fence with his mare fully in
hand, and her haunches well under her. Unable to move forward, save at a
walk, I turned in my saddle to watch him. He came boldly to the brink
of the fence; his hand was up prepared to strike; already the mare was
collecting herself for the effort, when from the bottom of the gripe a
figure sprang wildly up, and as the horse rose into the air, he jumped
at the bridle, pulling down both the horse and the rider with a crash
upon him, a loud cry of agony rising amid the struggle.
As they disappeared from my sight I felt like one in a trance. All
thoughts, however, were lost in the desire to win; and collecting my
energies for a last struggle, I lifted the gallant grey with both hands,
and by dint of spurring and shaking, pressed him to a canter, and rode
in, the winner, amid the deafening cheers and cries of thousands.
'Keep back! keep back!' cried Mahon, restraining with his whip the crowd
that bore down upon me. 'Hinton, take care that no one touches your
horse; ride inside, take off your saddle and get into the scale.'
Moving onwards like one in a dream, I mechanically obeyed the direction,
while the cries and shouts around me grew each moment louder and wilder.
'Here he comes! here he comes!' shouted several voices; and Burke
galloped up, and without drawing rein rode into the weighing-stand.
'Foul play!' roared he in a tone hoarse with passion. 'I protest against
the race! Holloa, sir!' he shouted, turning towards me.
'There, there!' said Mahon, as he hurried me along towards the scale,
'you have nothing to do with him.' And at the same moment a number of
others pressed eagerly forward to shake my hand and wish me joy.
'Look here, Dillon,' cried the Major, 'mark the weight--twelve stone
two, and two pounds over, if he wanted it. There, now,' whispered he,
in a voice which though not meant for my hearing I could distinctly
catch--'there, now, Dillon, take him into your carriage and get him off
the ground as fast as you can.'
Just at this instant Burke, who had been talking with loud voice and
violent gesticulation, burst through the crowd, and stood before us.
'Do you say, Dillon, that I have lost this race?'
'Yes, yes, to be sure!' cried out full twenty voices.
'My question was not addressed to you, sirs,' said he, boiling with
passion; 'I ask the judge of this course, have I lost?'
'My dear Ulick----' said Dillon, in a voice scarce audible from
agitation.
'No cursed palaver with me,' said he, interrupting. 'Lost or won,
sir--one word.'
'Lost, of course,' replied Dillon, with more of firmness than I believed
him capable.
'Well, sir,' said Burke, as he turned towards me, his teeth clenched
with passion, 'it may be some alloy to your triumph to know that your
accomplice has smashed his thigh-bone in your service; and yet I can
tell you you have not come to the end of this matter.'
Before I could reply, Burke's friends tore him from the spot and hurried
him to a carriage; while I, still more than ever puzzled by the words
I had heard, looked from one to the other of those around for an
explanation.
'Never mind, Hinton,' said Mahon, as, half breathless with running, he
rushed up and seized me by the hand. 'The poor fellow was discharging a
double debt in his own rude way--gratitude on your score, vengeance on
his own.'
[Illustration: 312]
'Tally-ho, tally-ho!--hark, there--stole away!' shouted a wild cry from
without, and at the same instant four countrymen came forward, carrying
a door between them, on which was stretched the pale and mangled figure
of Tipperary Joe. 'A drink of water--spirits--tay--anything, for the
love of the Virgin! I'm famished, and I want to drink Captain Phil's
health. Ah, darling!' said he, as he turned his filmy eyes up towards
me, 'didn't I do it beautifully; didn't I pay him off for this?' With
these words he pointed to a blue welt that stretched across his face,
from the mouth to the ear. 'He gave me that yesterday for saying long
life and success to you!'
'Oh! this is too horrible,' said I, gasping for breath. 'My poor fellow!
and I who had treated you so harshly!' I took his hand in mine, but it
was cold and clammy; his features were sunken too--he had fainted.
'Come, Hinton,' said the Major, 'we can do no good here; let us move
down to the inn at once, and see after this poor boy.'
'You are coming with us, Mr. Hinton?' cried Dillon.
'Not now, not now,' said I, while my throat was swelling with repressed
emotion. Without suffering me to say more, Mahon almost lifted me into
the tax-cart, and putting his horse to the gallop, dashed towards the
town, the cheers of the people following us as we went; for, to their
wild sense of justice, Joe was a genuine martyr, and I shared in the
glory of his self-devotion.
The whole way towards Loughrea, Mahon continued to talk; but not a
word could I catch. My thoughts were fixed on the poor fellow who had
suffered for my sake; and I would have given all I possessed in the
world to have lost the race, and seen him safe and sound before me.
'There, there!' said the Major, as he shook me by the arm; 'don't take
it to heart this way. You know little of Ireland, that's plain; that
poor fellow will be prouder for the feeling you have shown towards him
this night than many a king upon his throne. To have served a gentleman,
to have put him under an obligation--_that_ has a charm you can't
estimate the extent of. Beware, only beware of one thing--do not by any
offer of money destroy the illusion; do what you like for him, but take
care of that.'
We now reached the little inn; and Mahon--for I was incapable of all
thought or exertion--got a room in readiness for Joe, and summoning the
doctor of the place, provided everything for his care and accommodation.
'Now, Hinton,' said he, as he burst into my room, 'all's right. Joe is
comfortable in bed; the fracture turns out not to be a bad one. So rouse
yourself, for Dillon's carriage with all its ladies is waiting these ten
minutes.'
'No, no!' cried I; 'I can't go to this dinner-party! I'll not quit----'
'Nonsense, man!' said he, interrupting me; 'you can only do harm here;
the doctor says he must be left quite quiet» and alone. Besides, Dillon
has behaved so well to-day--so stoutly for _him_, that you mustn't
forget it. There, now, where are your clothes? I'll pack them for you.'
I started up to obey him, but a giddiness came over me, and I sank into
my chair, weak and sick.
'This will never do,' said Mahon; 'I had better tell them I'll drive you
over myself. And now, just lie down for an hour or two, and keep quiet.'
This advice I felt was good; and thanking my kind friend with a squeeze
of the hand, for I could not speak, I threw myself upon my bed, and
strange enough, while such contending emotions disturbed my brain, fell
asleep almost immediately.