"Poor Jack, I wish he would remain here. How I shall miss him."
Topsy Turvy dashed down the course, pulling double, and there was no
mistaking the resolute style in which he galloped.
"He's a beauty," muttered Captain Seagrave, "they are a well matched
pair, how well he rides; bound to win I should say. I have another
fiver, I may as well go the whole hog and risk it. Job Seagrave, you are
a fool."
This time he had to be contented with four to one, and he grumbled at
the price.
The bookmaker informed him the odds were good, and that if he did not
like four's he could go without.
It was a pretty race, and the horses were all well together for the
first mile, The Duke leading the field.
Jack knew the course well, the run in has a curious dip, not far from
the winning post, and as Topsy Turvy possessed any amount of stamina it
was here he would show to advantage. They had half a mile to go and the
rider of the favourite went up level with The Duke, Jack keeping close
behind on Sir Lester's horse.
Captain Seagrave enjoyed racing, but he was not a good judge of horses
in running, and he fancied Topsy Turvy ought to be nearer the leaders.
He had fifteen pounds on the race, and all he had left in his pocket was
an odd sovereign and a few silver coins. He commenced to lecture himself
on the follies of speculating and said he would have been much better
off had he locked himself in his cabin, and did the same with his money
in his locker.
"It will teach me a lesson," he said. "I'll never make another wager. I
wish I had not come near the blessed course. It's not his fault, he
thought the horse would win right enough, but----"
He stopped short as he caught sight of the black jacket and orange
sleeves coming with a rush on the outside. His tone changed at once.
"He's going to win, by all that's wonderful he's winning. I wish I had
more money on. Let me see. Fifty and twenty, that's seventy, not a bad
little haul."
Bibury was still in the lead, and again the gallant skipper quaked in
his shoes. He was far more excited than when he rescued the crew of the
"Northern Star" in the midst of a raging sea. He was used to the howling
of the winds and the roar and lashing of the waves, but the turmoil of
the racecourse was new to him.
Winifred watched the finish eagerly, she wondered if Topsy Turvy would
get up and beat the favourite. The dip was reached, and the stiff pinch
began. Gradually Topsy Turvy drew nearer to Bibury and despite his
weight held his own.
The excitement was intense. Captain Seagrave shouted, and the sound
almost deafened the man standing next to him; he moved away, calling the
skipper anything but polite names. This had no effect upon Job, who
waved his arms frantically and cleared the space near him.
Nearer and nearer Topsy Turvy stole up to Bibury, until they were neck
and neck, then came the supreme moment, when, for a second or two, the
result hung in the balance.
It was all over--the black and orange went to the front, and Sir
Lester's horse had won for the second time.
Jack Redland was glad it was over, he had seldom ridden a better, or
harder race, for it had taken him all his time to beat Bibury. Thanks to
Sir Lester he had won five hundred pounds, and in his present position
it seemed like a fortune. He rode into the weighing enclosure and
dismounted, Sir Lester and Winifred congratulating him on the result.
"It was a close shave," he said, as he came out of the weighing-room,
with the saddle on his arm, "closer than anyone imagines. I had to ride
my hardest to beat Bibury, he is a good horse. It was the dip at the
finish did it, Topsy Turvy has more stamina than the other one."
"At any rate you won, and rode a capital race. Will you take that jacket
out with you, it may come in useful, bring you good luck," said Sir
Lester.
"It will be a delightful souvenir," said Jack.
"And I will work a forget-me-not on it if you wish," said Winifred.
"Do, please," answered Jack, "that will serve to remind me of many
things in the dear old land."
Captain Seagrave was beside himself with delight. He drew his money,
counting it over and over again to make sure it was right. Then he
sought out Jack Redland and shook his arm with tremendous force.
"Seventy pounds. That's what I have won. Only think of it. My lad, we'll
live in clover this trip, I tell you. Where's the horse, let me have a
look at him."
"There he is," replied Jack, highly amused. "Mind he does not shiver
your timbers with his heels, he has a nasty habit of lashing out."
Captain Seagrave patted the horse, and gazed at him admiringly, he
thought Topsy Turvy the most beautiful creature he had ever seen; had he
lost probably his interest in the animal would have diminished
considerably.
Harry Marton, in London, anxiously awaited the result of the race. He
had put a couple of pounds on, more than he could well spare, and if he
won he meant to obtain some necessary additions to his outfit.
He bought an evening paper, but it was too early, "all the winners" were
not in yet. Later on he bought another, and put it in his pocket. He
wanted to look at it where no one would observe him. He went down a side
street off the Strand and turned into one of the gardens on the
Embankment, where he sat down.
Slowly he drew the paper out of his pocket, and opened it. He read the
result of the first race, then went down the list. "Ah, here it is!" he
exclaimed. "Sir Lester Dyke's Topsy Turvy (Jack Redland)!" He waved
the paper aloft, to the astonishment of two sedate old gentlemen near
by. He had won ten pounds, and that meant much to him. He blessed the
name of Topsy Turvy and wondered how Jack Redland had got on, and the
skipper. Anyway, it was a downright good commencement, no doubt they
would encounter many reverses in time to come, but they had started with
a success and that meant a good deal.
There was nothing of the gambler about him. He had merely risked the
money, on Jack's advice, and he had won. He had no inclination to try
and make it into more by similar means. The "little bit on" had done him
no harm, and the excitement had done him good.
Harry Marton knew what gambling meant in stocks and shares, and that
this form of speculation was far more baneful than a small investment on
a race. His father's downfall could be traced to the former, there was
no danger of the son allowing himself to be snared in the same net. He
would not have been much worse off had he lost his two pounds, he was
far better off now he had won ten. It was with a light heart he went
home that night and slept soundly, until the din of the traffic awoke
him in the morning.
Captain Seagrave returned from Lewes, and went down to the "Golden
Land," lying in the docks. He felt like a man who had conferred a
benefit upon his fellows. There was a glow of satisfaction on his face
as he stepped up the gangway on to the deck. It was ten o'clock, and
everything seemed very quiet on board. He saw no one about and shouted
in his familiar gruff tones. The cabin boy came along grinning.
"Where's the chief officer?" asked Captain Seagrave.
"Ashore, sir."
"Where's the chief engineer?"
"Ashore, sir."
"Where's the whole blessed crew, anyway?"
"Ashore, sir."
"Who the h--ll's left on the ship?"
"Me, sir."
Captain Seagrave seemed inclined to burst with wrath, he changed his
mind and roared with laughter.
"So you are in charge, Billy?"
"Yes, sir."
"Any report to make?"
"Yes, sir."
"Out with it."
"Mr. Slack said he was very much obliged to you and that the whole
blessed ship was topsy turvy."
"Oh, he said that did he, anything more?"
"Yes, sir."
"Full steam ahead."
"Mr. Macdonald said all his men had followed the advice he gave them,
and you need not expect to see any of 'em for four and twenty hours."
"Go on, any further news," said Captain Seagrave.
"Please, sir, Mr. Macdonald said that if I kept to the craft, and looked
out for you, he was sure you'd make it right with me when you came on
board."
"The devil he did. I'm very much obliged to Mac, but he was quite right,
here's a dollar for you."
The astonished lad gazed in awe at the skipper, the gift was so
unexpected, so unusual, he could not understand it. As he walked aft he
muttered--"I'm blest if he ain't topsy turvy, too."