ame. The impetuosity of Tyrrell
broke out in oaths, and we both dismounted to examine the cause of my
horse's hurt, in the hope that it might only be the intrusion of some
pebble between the shoe and the hoof. While we were yet investigating
the cause of our misfortune, two men on horseback overtook us. Tyrrell
looked up. "By Heaven," said he, in a low tone, "it's that dog Dawson,
and his worthy coadjutor, Tom Thornton."

"What's the matter, gentlemen?" cried the bluff voice of the latter.
"Can I be of any assistance?" and without waiting our reply, he
dismounted, and came up to us. He had no sooner felt the horse's leg,
than he assured us it was a most severe strain, and that the utmost I
could effect would be to walk the brute gently home.

As Tyrrell broke out into impatient violence at this speech, the sharper
looked up at him with an expression of countenance I by no means liked;
but in a very civil, and even respectful tone, said, "If you want, Sir
John, to reach Chester Park sooner than Mr. Pelham can possibly do,
suppose you ride on with us, I will put you in the direct road before I
quit you." (Good breeding, thought I, to propose leaving me to find my
own way through this labyrinth of ruts and stones!) However, Tyrrell,
who was in a vile humour, in no very courteous manner, refused the
offer, and added that he should continue with me as long as he could,
and did not doubt that when he left me he should be able to find his
own way. Thornton pressed the invitation still closer, and even offered,
sotto voce, to send Dawson on before, should the baronet object to his
company.

"Pray, Sir," said Tyrrell, "leave me alone, and busy yourself about your
own affairs." After so tart a reply, Thornton thought it useless to say
more; he remounted, and with a silent and swaggering nod of familiarity,
soon rode away with his companion.

"I am sorry," said I, as we were slowly proceeding, "that you rejected
Thornton's offer."

"Why, to say truth," answered Tyrrell, "I have so very bad an opinion
of him, that I was almost afraid to trust myself in his company on so
dreary a road. I have nearly (and he knows it), to the amount of two
thousand pounds about me; for I was very fortunate in my betting-book
today."

"I know nothing about racing regulations," said I; "but I thought one
never paid sums of that amount upon the ground?"

"Ah!" answered Tyrrell, "but I won this sum, which is L1,800., of a
country squire from Nor