“No; was n't that the water-jump!”
“Yes; but he has got to go over it again. Come, I 'll bet you twenty to one he does n't win.”
“Done.”
“Now I 'll bet you a hundred and twenty to one he does n't get a place.”
“Done.”
“Now I 'll even things up, and bet you he does n't come in———”
“Done!” said the girl, turning on him with a sudden flash. “He shall come in, if I have to go down there and ride him in myself.”
An exclamation from one of the others broke in on this banter:
“Blessed if he is n't gaining on them!”
And sure enough, as the brown horse came out from beyond the hill, though he was still far to the rear of the field, he had undoubtedly lessened the gap between them. The young girl's eyes sparkled.