The winning-post was opposite the place where the ladies and gentlemen sat, and of course they did not throw orange-peel, or anything of that kind, about. Ranulf had been greatly puzzled how to find his way there; but, luckily, a lady had put a splendid nosegay on one of the posts, and Ranulf, in going forward to be blindfolded, had a good sniff of it, so that he was sure he would find it all right.
At last the race began, and a very queer business it was; for the runners, in trying to avoid coming against the ropes, wandered about in the most extraordinary fashion. But Ranulf’s performance was quite irresistible, and it would have cured the worst fit of sulks in all the world just to see him for a minute, stretching out his nose, and working it from side to side, like an elephant’s trunk. He first found the peppermint-drop, up to which he rushed, winding up his nose on the ground like a coil of rope in a ship, then throwing it out again he found the ginger-beer bottle, and so on. He was rather put out by coming upon orange-peel just after passing the cigar-end; and when this happened, the puzzled look of his nose, as it caught scent of the peel at the wrong place, made the crowd roar again. The truth was, that some one in the crowd was throwing orange-peel; but, fortunately, a piece hit him on the nose, so that he guessed what was wrong, and with a bold sweep caught scent of the onion-skin from afar, and on he went, winning easily by a nose. The ladies were so delighted with this performance, that they all wanted to kiss him at once, and for a couple of minutes his nose was in great requisition.
WINNING A PONY.
In the distribution of prizes, Norval was made merry as a cricket by the gift of a golden bat; Jaques being declared entitled to an armful of toys, was able to claim enough to fill a bazaar by the aid of his long arms; and Ranulf, whose greatest delight was horses, rejoiced in a real Lilliputian pony of 25 pounds, the proper figure for a pony gained at races. When the prize distribution was over, the boys were led to the king’s table, on which an elegant feast was spread.
While they were enjoying it, there was a sudden flutter, and every eye turned one way.
BIG MAN—BIG FRIGHT—BIG WORDS.
“Oh, here he comes! here’s Blunderbore!” was the cry that rose on all sides.
“Blunderbore?” said Ranulf, turning rather pale; “that’s the giant with the awful teeth and the big club. I thought Jack had killed him. Oh dear, what shall we do?”
Norval did not feel quite comfortable either, but, seeing little Ranulf’s pale face, he forgot himself, and, trying to cheer him, said as bravely as he could—
“Never mind, Ranny; you know with my long neck I can make myself as big as he is, and I will brandish my bat as a club—perhaps that will frighten him.” He was not very confident of this, but put on as much appearance of being at ease as he could, so as to encourage his little brother.