Jack Harkaway in New York; or, The Adventures of the Travelers' Club

by Bracebridge Hemyng

  CHAPTER IX.

  THE RACE.

  Going on the course, Jack gave Warrior a canter to see what he was madeof, and found him a fast goer, well up to his weight, but inclined tobe restive and have his own way.

  In front of the grand stand, which was thronged with elegantly-dressedladies and gentlemen, Jack stopped short in the canter and took a lookat the sea of faces.

  In the front row was Miss Van Hoosen and her mother. They had evidentlyheard nothing about Alfred's accident, for when they recognized thehorse and the colors, they appeared much astonished.

  Jack could not resist the temptation of bowing to Lena, who, quiteperplexed, acknowledged his salutation by a slight inclination of thehead.

  Then he cantered gracefully back to the starting-place, taking hisposition among the other riders, to be ready for the start.

  This was effected without much trouble, no time being allowed Harkawayfor reflection.

  He did not consider that he had undertaken a dangerous task inconsenting to ride an animal he knew nothing of, but he had confidencein his own powers, and had never been much in the habit of calculatingon consequences.

  "They're off! they're off!" shouted the crowd, as the beautifulcreatures dashed past, like so many arrows from a bow.

  Jack was perfectly satisfied that Warrior had wind and bottom enoughto stay, and he determined to ride a waiting race, feeling sure thatseveral horses would tail off and that some would fail at the jumps.

  The first jump was made of hurdles, and this Warrior took well, risinglike a bird and going over without any more trouble than eating ameasure of oats.

  Although Jack held him well in hand his stride told in the first mile,and he had cut down the crowd considerably, there being only fourhorses in front of him.

  The most dangerous-looking one of these was a long-barreled,long-legged black horse, with powerful haunches and a way of going thatmeant mischief.

  At the second jump, which was made of branches of trees to represent ahedge, Warrior began to show his temper, for he flatly refused to takeit.

  Jack put him at it again, and gave him the spur, digging the rowelsdeep into his flanks, while he lashed him with the whip.

  With a snort of mingled rage and pain, the horse rushed at the jump andcleared it; but he was docile no longer, for he dashed away in a mannerwhich showed that he meant to have his own way.

  "Go it, my beauty!" muttered Jack, "we'll soon see who is master."

  Warrior was not at all backward in accepting this challenge, and madethe running in fine style, taking leap after leap like a deer.

  It required a strong hand and a quick eye to manage him. Jack's armsfelt as if they would be pulled out of their sockets, but he kept hisseat in the saddle as if he had grown there.

  The course was a circular one. Two-thirds of the way round was anartificially-constructed water-jump, a hole having been dug, abouttwenty-five feet wide by forty feet long and ten deep. Owing to recentrain this formidable leap was full of water.

  A large crowd had collected here, anticipating some sport, for it wascorrectly surmised that many horses would either refuse it or throwtheir riders.

  Jack had not been over the course, which was a great disadvantage tohim, yet he saw the gleam of the water and prepared for it. The blackhorse was leading, and behind it was a strong Kentucky bay.

  Both cleared the water-jump successfully.

  Jack now passed the fourth horse, which had weakened visibly. The thirdhorse fell at the water-jump, breaking his rider's collar-bone andinjuring itself so that it had to be shot.

  This accident made Jack third in the race.

  After the water-leap were three sets of hurdles; and then, for about amile and a half, it was a straight run for home, over as nice a bit ofturf as a horse ever galloped on.

  Warrior approached his task and Jack plied him with whip and spur,fearful he might balk at the sight of the water, as many horses will,and determining to get him over if possible.

  Loud cheers and cries of encouragement greeted him.

  The edge of the water was nearly reached; he prepared to lift thehorse; and with the breeze almost blowing the words down his throat, hestimulated the animal with his voice:

  "Now, then, my darling," he said, "jump for your life and mine."

  Suddenly a man in the crowd opened an umbrella and held it up nearWarrior's eyes.

  The effect was instantaneous, for the horse swerved, refused the jump,and rearing up, stood for a moment on his hind legs, pawing the air.

  Jack was afraid he would fall on and crush him, but he was equal to theoccasion, for he threw himself off, just as Warrior fell back.

  Before he did this, he caught sight of the man with the umbrella.

  "Bambino," he muttered.

  The wretch had opened the umbrella, evidently on purpose to frightenthe horse and make Jack endanger his life.

  Harvey was right, after all.

  The fall which Jack received was an ugly one; for a moment he laystunned and bleeding from a cut on the forehead.

  He had lost his cap, and his shirt was torn and muddy.

  Kind and sympathizing bystanders helped him to his feet; willing handscaught his horse.

  Harkaway looked about him in a dazed manner, but his indomitable pluckcarried him through the trying ordeal.

  His head was swimming and he was in pain, but he never faltered for amoment.

  Bambino had disappeared.

  Perhaps he dreaded the vengeance of the populace, for his cowardlytrick could not fail to be noticed by some one.

  "Give it up, boss," asked a man who had helped Jack to rise.

  "No; I'll ride or die," was the answer.

  He walked to the horse, mounted, and backing his steed, who wasquivering in every limb, put him again at the jump.

  The bystanders were delighted with his courage.

  His phrase "ride or die" seemed to tickle the crowd immensely.

  "Hurrah!" they cried. "Ride or die! Bravo!"

  "Who is that?" asked some one. "He wears the Van Hoosen colors."

  "It's Jack Harkaway," replied a stableman who had seen Jack's drag.

  "He's got grit in him."

  "You just bet you he has."

  "Hurrah!" shouted the crowd, again. "Ride or die! Sail in! Ride or die!"

  This time, Warrior, as if ashamed of himself for his former failure,made amends by taking the leap, with the velocity of a meteor.

  He landed safely on the other side amid the applause of the spectators,and Jack gave him his head.

  Away they went, the horse seeming to like nothing better.

  The black horse was not so far ahead, as Jack had expected, for he hadnot been husbanded by his rider, and his strength was beginning to failhim.

  The first set of hurdles was cleared; at the second, Warrior stumbled;but a vigorous hand on the reins and a sharp reminder with the whip,showed him his duty, and he went over.

  At the third and last set, the second horse fell heavily, throwing hisrider.

  Harkaway was now second in the race, the leader being on the homestretch, and going in a somewhat labored manner.

  Going over the last fence, Jack put all his horsemanship intorequisition.

  The grand stand was in view, and the hoarse roar of thousands of voicesbecame audible.

  "Ride or die!" thought Jack, "and by Jove I'll do it."

  Whip and spur were not spared, and Warrior, now mastered and tamed,overhauled the black horse about half a mile from home.

  Now ensued the most interesting and exciting part of the race.

  The Kentucky thoroughbred, ridden by its owner, struggled gamely; andhe and Warrior went along neck and neck.

  Louder and louder grew the roar of the assembled multitude.

  Jack knew he was drawing near the goal, but a mist came over his eyes.

  How near it was he could not tell.

  The black horse at last seemed to fall back, Warrior went on ahead.There was a shout of acclama
tion.

  "Black cap wins! Van Hoosen! Van Hoosen!"

  Jack reined in his horse; the trainer seized the bridle, and hedismounted at the stable-door; though how he got there, he could nottell.

  "All right now, sir. Step inside," said the trainer.

  The mist was deepening, and the dizziness in Jack's head was increasing.

  He could only see objects indistinctly.

  What was the matter with him? Could he have hurt himself more than hesuspected?

  Before him was a gentleman who sat on a bale of hay, and he seemed tohave a bandage on his foot.

  "Mr. Smith," began the gentleman. "Why! It's Jack Harkaway!--Mr.Harkaway, I mean, pardon the familiarity. How the deuce did you come toride my horse, sir?"

  "You're Alfred Van Hoosen?" said Jack, in a faint voice.

  "Certainly, I am."

  "Did I win the race?"

  "Did you win it? Why, man alive! It was the finest race on record, theytell me. Every one is perfectly wild about it, and--"

  "Excuse me," interrupted Jack. "I know I ought not to have ridden yourhorse, but I wanted your sister to have the cup, and if you'll acceptmy apology--"

  It was now Van Hoosen's turn to interrupt Jack.

  "Apology! my dear fellow," he said. "I don't know what you mean."

  "You didn't treat me well the other day, and I know it was wrong toride your horse."

  "You have done me the greatest service one man could do another,"replied Van Hoosen. "When I sprained my ankle, I hurt it badly, andI am told I shall not get out of the house for a month at least. Atpresent I am suffering terrible torture. If you had not ridden myhorse, I should have been a ruined man, for I don't mind telling youI had backed my mount heavily, and I stood to lose more than I canafford. It would have broken my heart to go to my mother and ask her topay my debts of honor. You have saved me."

  Jack's face lighted up with a faint smile.

  It was the brother of the girl he loved who was talking to him.

  "I'm awfully glad," he said. "It pleases me to help a man out of a badplace. If your man will give me my coat, I'll go home now, and send youthe colors in the morning. I've got friends here--drove my drag down,you know, and I fear I have neglected them."

  "Sit down a moment," replied Van Hoosen. "You're a fine fellow,Harkaway, and I'm sorry for what I said yesterday."

  "Don't mention it, my dear fellow. I've forgotten it."

  "I've sent for some wine. Won't you wait?"

  "Well, yes. Just a moment--the fact is--I'm not well--I've got a suddenvertigo--I--I can't see."

  He extended his arms and groped his way, toward the door; but ere hereached it he fell on the floor, and the blood flowed again from thewound on his forehead.

  For a time his senses left him.