234 ' LORD OF THE ISLES ' 



weights and selected the horses that should take part in 

 the trial, and after dinner and a pleasant chat, about 

 eleven o'clock retired to rest. The next morning at four 

 o'clock, the boys I usually had them and not jockeys in 

 trials were weighed and sent with the four horses on 

 the Downs, there to await our arrival. We were some- 

 what delayed by the fog that had suddenly made its 

 unpleasant appearance. This, after the first canter, 

 became so dense that we could scarcely distinguish one 

 horse from the other. Had it not been for Mr. Merry's 

 anxiety to leave for town, the trial would have been 

 postponed, and the horses sent home ; for fogs are 

 dangerous things for horses to be kept long in at exercise. 

 The most extraordinary scene now took place that I ever 

 remember to have witnessed. The fog rolled lazily up 

 the east side of the hill in dense clouds, resting on the 

 top and western decline. A sudden atmospheric disturb- 

 ance took place, the wind suddenly veering from east to 

 west, causing the mist to disappear from the upper 

 ground, but leaving the sides as densely clouded as ever. 

 Taking advantage of the brief moment thus given, we 

 had a most satisfactory trial, Lord of the Isles winning. 

 A few minutes afterwards the fog from both sides had 

 mingled, all was obscurity again, the horses reaching 

 their stables with difficulty. 



As this was one amongst many notable trials , I give 

 the particulars as follows : 



Lord of the Isles, 3 yrs., 8 st. 7 Ib. - - - - 1 



Noisy, 3 yrs., 8 st. 7 Ib. 2 



Nabob, 6 yrs., 9 st. 2 Ib. 3 



Harry the Great (brother to Little Harry], 3 yrs., 9 st. 4 



Won by a length, the same between the second and 

 third, and four lengths between the third and fourth. I 

 have no doubt if it had been half a mile farther, Noisy 



