"You don't look much like a jockey," he replied.
"I am a gentleman rider. If you care to go down to Lewes the week before we sail you will see me win a race, I hope."
"Lewes!" exclaimed Seagrave, "that's funny, bless my soul, it's funny. I was born there, in that glorious town I first saw daylight, or gas-light."
"Well, this beats all," said Harry Marton, "it is a day of surprises."
"A fellow must be born somewhere," said the skipper, in an apologetic tone, at which they both laughed.
"Have you been there lately?" asked Jack.
"Not this trip. I was there about twelve months ago, at the races, and had a look round the old place, but very few people know me now. I remember I backed a horse called Topsy Turvy, because he belonged to Sir Lester Dyke. I knew his father, they are a grand old family."
"I rode the horse," said Jack, quietly.
"Belay, there," shouted Seagrave, as he came to a dead standstill and stared at him, much to the amusement of the passers by. "You rode him, well, of all the——curious things this beats cock fighting."
"And I am going to ride him again at the next meeting," said Jack.