A trot or succession of seven tails followed, and the kip changed hands rapidly, for the spinner drops the kip when he throws tails.

Chook stopped betting during the trot, obeying an instinct.

Without counting, his practised eye told him that there were about five pounds in the heap of coins in front of him.

The seventh man threw down the kip, and Chook, as if obeying a signal, rose from his seat and walked into the centre of the ring.

He handed five shillings to the boxer, and placed the pennies tail up on the kip.