orus of applauding yells.

"His horse is gittin' tired," said the Hon. Sam jubilantly, and the
Blight's face, I noticed, showed for the first time faint traces of
indignation. The Knight of the Cumberland was taking no theatrical
chances now and he came through the course with level spear and, with
three rings on it, he shot by like a thunderbolt.

"Hooray!" shouted the Hon. Sam. "Lord, what a horse!" For the first time
the Blight, I observed, failed to applaud, while Mollie was clapping her
hands and Buck was giving out shrill yells of encouragement. At the
next tilt the Hon. Sam had his watch in his hand and when he saw the
Discarded digging in his spurs he began to smile and he was looking at
his watch when the little tinkle in front told him that the course was
run.

"Did he get 'em all?"

"Yes, he got 'em all," mimicked the Blight.

"Yes, an' he just did make it," chuckled the Hon. Sam. The Discarded
had wheeled his horse aside from the course to watch his antagonist. He
looked pale and tired--almost as tired as his foam-covered steed--but
his teeth were set and his face was unmoved as the Knight of the
Cumberland came on like a demon, sweeping off the last ring with a low,
rasping oath of satisfaction.

"I never seed Dave ride that-a-way afore," said Mollie.

"Me, neither," chimed in Buck.

The nobles and ladies were waving handkerchiefs, clapping hands, and
shouting. The spectators of better degree were throwing up their
hats and from every part of the multitude the same hoarse shout of
encouragement rose:

"Go it, Dave! Hooray for Dave!" while the boy on the telegraph-pole was
seen to clutch wildly at the crossbar on which he sat--he had come near
tumbling from his perch.

The two knights rode slowly back to the head of the lists, where the
Discarded was seen to dismount and tighten his girth.

"He's tryin' to git time to rest," said the Hon. Sam. "Toot, son!"

"Shame!" said the little sister and the Blight both at once so severely
that the Hon. Sam quickly raised his hand.

"Hold on," he said, and with hand still uplifted he waited till Marston
was mounted again. "Now!"

The Discarded came on, using his spurs with every jump, the red of his
horse's nostrils showing that far away, and he swept on, spearing off
the rings with deadly accuracy and holding the three aloft, but having
no need to pull in his panting steed, who stopped of his own accord.
Up went a roar, but the Hon. Sam, covertly glan