Frederick citizen., 1895-02-15
VOL. r..

think without exception. she was
he biggest brute I ever rode In my Ire.
When a man Is as poor as rat' Oh
course he can't afford to De very
particular as to his cattle, and my top
price for hunter never exceeded HIty
guineas. 1 frequented TattersalPs on
Y,ouring wet days, when no sensible
person was likely to venture out OF
doors. or else when some big race meet
ing was on, calculated to thin the at
tendance. But generally the gees there,
went for too much money, and in an
ordinary way picked up my Leicester
shire flyers at Aldridge's. although l
sometimes patronized the London
House Repository, if a country dA@'Hr
was sending job lot Of animals to the
hammer
Occasionally my purchases turned out
trumps, but am bound to confess thai
such luck was the exception rather
than the rule. There was nearly al
ways an "if' or but" about them, and
got unfrequently half dozen. Roughly
speaking l may say that l was accust-
omed to brutes in every shape and
form, but the mare in question certain
ly bore away The prize from all those
had hitherto bestridden.
When l bought her for thirty-three e
golden sovereigns. one snowy Decent
ber day at Aldrige's. I really thought
that for once 1 had made an extraor-
dnary bargain. She was regular
beauty to look at, and as far as appear
ances went might easily have repre-
scented three hundred guineas. In fact
l have seen many less taking animal
at the price, for well-to-do sportsmen
often pay for character rather than
symmetry. However, to go back to my
mare. She was a bright bay In color,
and even at a time of the year when
most horses coats are not seen to ad-
vantage, hers Shone like satin She
stood close upon sixteen hands high,
and had a grand shoulder, we'll set
on head and neck, legs as clean and
cool as a two year old's, and quarters
At to carry ton.
I only ride twelve stone in full hunt
ing kit, although I measure six feet
without my boots, but nature has been
kind enough to endow me with a spare
person, which enables me to set Bant-
ing at defiance. Nevertheless, I hold
that no man Is the worse for having
weight. One can take more liberties
when one has an extra stone in hand.
AS | took stock of the mares great
hips. Of her powerful arched neck and
muscular thighs, said to myself,
''Thats the sort. She'll do me two days
week easy and take nothing more
out of herself than she can help. I'll
be bound she's good feeder to look at
her."
The only thing that puzzled me, was
why such a beautiful creature should
be thrown away at so low price. The
smallness of the sum made me smell
rat, and as soon as the hammer had
4 fallen to my bid and the mare was
4 led away, went round to the stables,
hoping to gain some information.
But although l questioned, and cross
Questioned the groom in charge Of the
string up for sale, he could tell me
nothing Of my new purchase, beyond
that his employer, large job-master
VINO hired out a number Of animals
curing the hunting season, had allowed
as favor to send her up for sale
with his own lot.
After all. 1t don't much signify" I
muttered. to myself. as I turned away.
i shall very soon find out where the
\ rhoe pinches"
And / did with vengeance.
Fhat very afternoon as l went up to
her IN her stall, she flew at me OPEN
houthed, and before I suspected her
intention, buried both teeth in the
neshy part of my arm. 1t was not a
PLAYFUL bite, which frightens more than
u hurts. but a real, nasty, vicious one,
ana | regularly howled with the pain.
daving once got me in her grip she
showed no inclination to let go. but
proceeded to shake me as IL / had beer
uog. In this awkward position /
eoubled up my left fist and struck
nef blow, with all my might, upon
'he forehead, between the eyes. 1t
mace her lose her hold, and reellng
seainst the wooden side-piece of the
stall managed to~effect an escape.
lhud, thud, went her heels against
'ne boarding. She lashed out twice
ana each time missed me by about an
eight of an inch.
Buy a muzzle at once" I said, to
my groom, "and never take it off ex-
sept whilst she is feeding She's the
most vicious beast In the stable I ever
eame across. Let US hope she is better
OUT OF 1t, else in spite Of her good
looks, l shall repent me OF my bar
gain"
- caught an evening train down to
market Harboro'. intending to hunt
WIN Mr. Fernie's hounds the next day
but my arm swelled to so great a size
.hat although bathed 1t in hot water
lor an hour, and then, acting on my
sroom's advice. rubbed In a liberal
supply OF Elliman's embrocation, rid.
ing was out of the question. Ths
sinews OF my hand stiffened to such ar
Extent. that u took four whole days be-
.ore 1 could close my fingers firmly
Enough to held the reins And all this
Nv ~ to that Internal mare! But she
AAu put me on my mettle, and vowec
would not be done. So when Thurs-