YEOMANRY AND VOLUNTEERS 45 



may mention in passing, that a hunter eight or nine years 

 old, other things being equal, is much more valuable in 

 Leicestershire than a five - year - old, and that few of the 

 hunting people there would care to trust their necks to a four- 

 year-old ; because experience and its attendant sense cannot 

 be obtained without age. After a search through the three 

 kingdoms, I got what I sought, in the shape of big, up- 

 standing, weight-carrying Leicestershire hunters, and added 

 to my lot a remarkably good-looking seventeen hand grey 

 gelding, which I was certain would captivate the heart of the 

 Grand Duke Nicholas. I was in special trepidation about the 

 mare I had to bring out for Colonel Kasnakof ; because, just 

 before leaving Krasnoe Selo, Madame Kasnakof told me 

 that the mare would also have to carry her ! Russian officers, 

 copying the French, like to ride with the spurs close to their 

 animals' sides, so as to brush the hair with them effleurer 

 les polls avec les eperons, as the followers of equitation savante 

 express it. That's bad enough in all conscience ; but it is 

 nothing to the constant tickling with the spur and whip to which 

 Continental ladies subject their mounts. In my trouble I 

 went to Mr. Sam Hames, and appealed to him to help me. 

 He said he knew only one animal in England which would 

 suit all the requirements I reeled off to him, and that one he 

 kept for the exclusive use of field officers of the yeomanry 

 and volunteers. Thinking that such a testimonial of steadi- 

 ness and a month's trial were good enough for anything, I 

 brought the mare home to Crick, and handed her over to my 

 wife to ride for four weeks, during which time we found the 

 mare to be absolutely confidential. Besides, she was hand- 

 some, showy, and had a perfect mouth with which a bad 

 rider could take liberties. 



Towards the end of October I embarked at Hull with the 

 horses on board the S.S. Rinaldo, which belongs to the 

 Wilson Line and is commanded by Captain Jones. I like 



