“But the race was not yet over, the sound of a competitor seemed to wake Bertha up, for with a new fire the plucky filly disputed the way inch by inch. It was now easy to see that her jockey had no part in her efforts, and was quite outmastered by her.
“On The Vengeance the whip was falling like a flail, and from the stand it was impossible to pick the leader as they passed the post. But a great shout of relief went up when Bertha’s number appeared on the board, and it was known she had won by a head.
“It may be truly said such a Cup race was never run before, for the winning jockey now admits that early from the start he lost all control of his mount. She is notoriously bad-tempered, so that whip and spurs are never used with her; but of her thorough gameness there is now no question.
“The surprise of the meeting was the running of The Vengeance. His display of form is a revelation, and it is to be inferred a most unwelcome one for somebody’s apple-cart.”
* * * * *
The result being known, Alec Booth was fairly delirious with joy. The whole earth was Heaven to him now and for evermore. All and everybody must drink his health, and the mare’s health, and in champagne of the best, and he was surrounded by a throng eager to praise and congratulate him.
Never in his life before, never in his life again, would Alec feel the fierce joy of that moment. He had dared all, tossed up Ruin against Fortune, and Fortune had come down right side up. And he swelled with pride as he thought how he, an ignorant country lad, had bested the smart Australian turfites at their own game.
No thought at this moment of Soft Sam, not one; it was he, Alec Booth, who had planned, designed, and carried out all.
But a far different man was creeping away on the outskirts of that crowd. Huey Gosper had the face of a suicide. With an execration on his lips he left the course. So nearly to have won, and yet lost? And he had made so sure of it. Who could have foreseen that that brute of a Bertha would have run her own race, despite all the pulling jockeys in the world? And now the true form of The Vengeance was given away. He might as well be shot for all the use of him. It was as Soft Sam had said, Bertha was a bit the best of the pair. Why had he not followed the old man, and not been a fool? But he must take his gruel like a man, he told himself that, and there were other means open for a man of brains and resolution.
Alec had not married Bertha yet, and Alec, curse him, would have to fight once again to win her. If he had only Soft Sam to help him it could be managed, but there was no hope there, for Soft Sam, as he knew, would take no side in the quarrel. Sam, he remembered, had wanted to know that Sunday on the Domain why he had not asked Bertha to marry him. He would take the advice. She might say Yes; then all would be well. Alec might keep his cup, and good luck to him.