When the tension relaxed, and he knew everything was right, and that he had done what had been asked of him, he fainted.
It quickly got about that Willie Dennis was in a bad way, and some people said the race had been too much for him, and that it was a shame for his father to let him ride.
When Dr Tom heard such remarks, he could no longer refrain from speaking out, and said indignantly,—
'If you knew the cause of this fainting fit you would not talk like that. There's been foul play somewhere, and I don't care who knows it now the race is over.'
'Foul play? What do you mean, doctor?' said Aaron Hyam.
'Listen, and I will tell you. Last night Jim Dennis and myself went to your place and left Willie at home. When we returned, we found him insensible on the floor, and he had received a violent blow on the back of the head. Some scoundrel, I suppose, who had laid against Neptune, did it, but we mean to find out the culprit.'
There was an angry murmur at this, for the Swamp Creek people knew and trusted Dr Tom, and they hated foul play.
They were standing inside Aaron Hyam's booth, and Abe Dalton heard what passed, but he knew he had little cause to fear, because no one had seen him enter Dr Tom's. Constable Doonan was also there, and said to Dr Tom, 'Have you repeated this to Sergeant Machinson?'
'No, but the police magistrate knows; and he saw Willie Dennis early this morning and felt the lump on his head.'
Sergeant Machinson, seeing the crowd gathered in the booth, came up and asked what was the matter.