Harkaway looked about him in a dazed manner, but his indomitable pluck carried him through the trying ordeal. His head was swimming and he was in pain, but he never faltered for a moment. Bambino had disappeared. Perhaps he dreaded the vengeance of the populace, for his cowardly trick could not fail to be noticed by some one. "Give it up, boss," asked a man who had helped Jack to rise. "No; I'll ride or die," was the answer. He walked to the horse, mounted, and backing his steed, who was quivering in every limb, put him again at the jump. The bystanders were delighted with his courage. His phrase "ride or die" seemed to tickle the crowd immensely. "Hurrah!" they cried. "Ride or die! Bravo!" "Who is that?" asked some one. "He wears the Van Hoosen colors." "It's Jack Harkaway," replied a stableman who had seen Jack's drag. "He's got grit in him." "You just bet you he has." "Hurrah!" shouted the crowd, again. "Ride or die! Sail in! Ride or die!" This time, Warrior, as if ashamed of himself for his former failure, made amends by taking the leap, with the velocity of a meteor. He landed safely on the other side amid the applause of the spectators, and Jack gave him his head. Away they went, the horse seeming to like nothing better. The black horse was not so far ahead, as Jack had expected, for he had not been husbanded by his rider, and his strength was beginning to fail him. The first set of hurdles was cleared; at the second, Warrior stumbled; but a vigorous hand on the reins and a sharp reminder with the whip, showed him his duty, and he went over. At the third and last set, the second horse fell heavily, throwing his rider. Harkaway was now second in the race, the leader being on the home stretch, and going in a somewhat labored manner. Going over the last fence, Jack put all his horsemanship into requisition. The grand stand was in view, and the hoarse roar of thousands of voices became audible. "Ride or die!" thought Jack, "and by Jove I'll do it." Whip and spur were not spared, and Warrior, now mastered and tamed, overhauled the black horse about half a mile from home. Now ensued the most interesting and exciting part of the race. The Kentucky thoroughbred, ridden by its owner, struggled gamely; and he and Warrior went along neck and neck. Louder and louder grew the roar of the assembled multitude. Jack knew he was drawing near the goal, but a mist came over his eyes. How near it was he could not tell. The black horse at last seemed to fall back, Warrior went on ahead. There was a shout of acclamation. "Black cap wins! Van Hoosen! Van Hoosen!" Jack reined in his horse; the trainer seized the bridle, and he dismounted at the stable-door; though how he got there, he could not tell. "All right now, sir. Step inside," said the trainer. The mist was deepening, and the dizziness in Jack's head was increasing. He could only see objects indistinctly.