ladies fainted, and two gentlemen betted across them. This was no time
for nice observances--Jack Giles's spirit began to flag--and Tom Hand's
judgment _to tell_--High-Blood, on the full stretch, was within view of
the winning-post, when Wildfire, quite in wind, was put to his speed by
the judicious Tom Hand--he sprang forward, came up with High-Blood--passed
him--Jack Giles strove in vain to regain his ground--High-Blood was blown,
beyond the power of whip or spur--Wildfire reached the post, and Squire
Burton won the match hollow.

His friends congratulated him and themselves loudly, and extolled Tom Hand
and Wildfire to the skies. In the moment of disappointment, Colonel Hauton,
out of humour, said something that implied a suspicion of unfairness on the
part of Burton or Tom Hand, which the honest squire could not brook either
for self or rider. He swore that his Tom Hand was as honest a fellow as any
in England, and he would back him for such. The colonel, depending on his
own and his uncle's importance, on his party and his flatterers, treated
the squire with some of the haughtiness of rank, which the squire retorted
with some rustic English humour. The colonel, who had not wit at will to
put down his antagonist, became still more provoked to see that such a
low-born fellow as the squire should and could laugh and make others laugh.
For the lack of wit the colonel had recourse to insolence, and went on
from one impertinence to another, till the squire, enraged, declared that
he would not be browbeat by any lord's nephew or jackanapes colonel that
ever wore a head; and as he spoke, tremendous in his ire, Squire Burton
brandished high the British horsewhip. At this critical moment, as it has
been asserted by some of the bystanders, the colonel _quailed_ and backed a
few paces; but others pretend that Buckhurst Falconer pushed before him. It
is certain that Buckhurst stopped the blow--wrested the horsewhip from the
squire--was challenged by him on the spot--accepted the challenge--fought
the squire--_winged_ him--appeared on the race ground afterwards, and was