THE REV. JOHN RUSSELL 173 



and thinking him a pony I at first rode him 

 quietly ; but when the hounds began to run, 

 Billy pulled at his snaffle, and letting him go he 

 went with a will right up to the head, as if he 

 had said to himself, ' That's my place, and I 

 mean to keep it.' And so he did ; no bank 

 could stop him ; no pace choke him off ; he 

 could stay all day, and go a cracker through 

 dirt up to the very last. In fact, he was in 

 every respect a steed worthy of his renowned 

 ancestor ; and I much doubt if Wreford ever 

 bred a gamer or a better animal." 



Russell, it is almost surperfluous to say, 

 valued liim as the apple of his eye ; nay, if 

 he had suffered himself to be tempted by gold, 

 he might at any time have filled his pockets 

 with the price of Billy. But to all offers 

 Russell cried, Avaunt ! and death alone divided 

 the twain. 



Nor was that altogether strictly the case ; for, 

 when the event took place after a faithful servi- 

 tude of more than ten years, Billy's glossy hide, 

 being removed by skilful hands, was sent to a 

 tanner's, and afterwards formed the covering of 

 a most comfortable armchair. The legs and 

 hoofs, the latter beautifully polished and fitted 

 with invisible castors, were all Billy's ; and well 

 might Russell, reclining in the once familiar seat, 

 and perhaps dozing after a long day's work, be 

 led by fancy's dream to believe that Billy was 



