_THE SECOND STRING_
It was a brilliant scene on the beautiful Randwick course on Cup Day,
and Jack Redland, as he looked round, thought it compared more than
favourably with anything of the kind he had seen in the old country. He
knew it was to be a day of excitement, and he heartily wished he had
some friend to share it with him. Sometimes our desires are gratified in
a strangely sudden manner, and so it chanced to be with him.
As he looked at the moving mass of people in the ring at the rear of the
Stewards' Stand, he saw a burly figure that seemed strangely familiar.
At first he did not recognise it, but as the man moved nearer, he gave
an exclamation of delighted surprise, for it was his old friend Captain
Seagrave, who in some extraordinary way had turned up at this opportune
moment.
Jack darted down the steps of the stand and hustled his way through the
crowd, not stopping to answer numerous heated inquiries as to where he
was "pushing people."
He caught Captain Seagrave by the arm, and the astonished sailor gasped
as he looked at him.
"Of all the blessed experiences I ever had, this beats all," said Job,
as he gave his hand a hearty shake. "Where on earth have you sprung
from?"
"I ought to ask that question," replied Jack, laughing. "What brings you
here?"
"Come under the trees and sit down, and I'll tell you."