"Mr. Vaughan has just ridden five hundred miles on end," explained Jack.
"By George!" exclaimed Dugdale.
"Five hundred, bedad!" said Captain O'Hare. "If they were like the miles round Salamanca, sure you must have come through a power of mud!"
"How long did it take you, sir?" asked Shirley.
"Six days."
There was a cry of astonishment.
"Gad, that beats Bagster of Trinity!" said Dugdale. "Backed himself to ride sixty miles and eat sixty oysters in a hundred and sixty minutes; lost by six oysters, and always vowed he could ha' done that if the vinegar hadn't run short!"
There was a general laugh.
"I could have done with the oysters—even the six," said Vaughan, who was tickled by Dugdale's whole-hearted enjoyment of his recollection.
"And why did you pelt along so terrible hard, may I ask, Mr. Vaughan?" said the captain.