Page:Wren--The young stagers.djvu/65

Rh like that—all pathetic, wiv' a break in me little voice. An' Bill—e'd give a 'iccup of onderstanding and let a neigh which meant, 'Dear Master, back your little Bill, an' 'e'll be there or thereabahts.' An' 'e would too. Then come the grite day when the Capting 'ad to win a pot o' money or send in 'is pipers, and 'e fair put 'is shirt on Bill, 'e did. " "Did he tie it round his neck?" inquired the enthralled Boodle, visualising the strange proceeding. "Was it a sort of—gage of battle, like?"

"It's a manner o' speakin', Missy," explained Bobball. "If yore Papa or Mamma goes racin', an' backs a 'orse 'eavy-like, they says they put their last shirt on 'im—see? On'y a manner o' speakin', o' course. Well, the Capting 'e sends fer me and says, '’All, me faithful ole friend,' 'e says, 'go an' do yore best with Bill. Make 'im onnerstand that I'm broke to the world, stony to the wide, onless 'e wins terday. I'm done,' he says, 'an' if Bill fails me now, I shall make a beastly mess in my bedroom wi' my brains to-night.' Seizin' 'im by the 'and, I