"
The bell now began to ring, and the native police cleared the
course. Major Hannay and Mr. Hunter, who had driven over in the
buggy, came up and took their places on the box of the carriage.
"Here are cards of the races," he said. "Now is the time, young
ladies, to make your bets."
"I don't know even the name of anyone in this first race," Isobel
said, looking at the card.
"That doesn't matter in the least, Miss Hannay," Wilson, who had
just come up to the side of the carriage, said. "There are six
horses in; you pick out any one you like, and I will lay you five
pairs of gloves to one against him."
"But how am I to pick out when I don't know anything about them,
Mr. Wilson? I might pick out one that had no chance at all."
"Yes; but you might pick out the favorite, Miss Hannay, so that it
is quite fair."
"Don't you bet, Isobel," her uncle said. "Let us have a sweepstake
instead."
"What is a sweepstake, uncle?"
There was a general laugh.
"Well, my dear, we each put in a rupee. There are six of us, and
there are Wilson and the Doctor. You will go in, Doctor, won't
you?"
"Yes; I don't mind throwing away a rupee, Major."
"Very well, that makes eight. We put eight pieces of paper in the
hat. Six of them have got the names of the horses on, the other
two are blank. Then we each pull out one. Whoever draws the name
of the horse that wins takes five rupees, the holder of the second
two, and the third saves his stake.
Pages:
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120