“‘I have brought with me a hundred pounds. You may have it upon one condition.’
“‘And what might that be?’ I inquired.
“‘Your colt and filly!’ he replied, with a meaning look. ‘In my pocket are six balls. I want one given to each of them to-night, one to-morrow morning, and one again to-morrow night.’
“‘Oh!’ I ejaculated, for his proposition had almost taken my breath away. ‘That’s it, is it? You want me to poison the poor brutes.’
“‘No, no,’ he quickly answered; ‘not poison—only opium; the animals will be all the better for it—their legs will be saved. They will go down in character for this two thousand stake, but come out another day low in the list, to the surprise of the knowing ones.’
“‘I don’t like the job,’ I exclaimed, ‘that I tell you plainly—I don’t like it at all.’
“‘That may be, but you’ll do it—you must!’
“‘When am I to touch?’ said I.
“‘Immediately after the race comes off. Our people are honourable, and just in all their dealings.’”
“Oh, oh!” exclaimed half a dozen of the prisoners, simultaneously.