Captain Astley. 209 



especially as he was learning to crow, and consequently 

 needed a vast quantity of eggs from which to obtain the 

 proper tone of voice. This news greatly excited the interest 

 of the ladies, who did everything they could to watch the 

 movements of Captain Astley, as they expected at any 

 moment to see him draw himself up on tip-toe, flap his 

 arms and play the part of loud-voiced chanticleer. To him 

 the best part of the joke, which soon leaked out, was that of 

 his being supposed to eat game fowl eggs, which were as 

 forbidden to him as the flesh of a cow to a Brahmin. 



I received from Captain Astley the following interesting 

 recollections of Cremorne's Derby : 



' My cousin John Astley had an unnamed one called 

 Brother-to-Flurry, or the Makeshift Colt, that had never run 

 in public up to the Derby of 1872. He was trained by the 

 astute Alec Taylor, and I defy contradiction when I say 

 that nobody knew, or ever will know, how good he was, 

 except George Payne, John Astley and Alec Taylor. All I 

 know is that he ought to have easily beaten Cremorne, if he 

 had but properly come round Tattenham Corner. The first 

 bet laid against him was 1000 to 8 at old Tattersall's ; and 

 then the commission was executed with uncommon secrecy 

 and very gradually. 



* On the morning of the race, somehow or other, the Sports- 

 man got an idea about his form and advised its readers to 

 back him for a place. His starting price of 40 to I would 

 have been much longer only for the Sportsman. What ex- 

 citement there was on arrival at Epsom ! I hid away in the 

 Durdans to avoid being badgered. At length I emerged 

 from my retreat, and rushing at dear old George Payne and 

 my cousin John, told them how anxious I was that Brother- 

 to-Flurry would win. John Astley remarked, " Nothing but 

 Cremorne can possibly beat him, and I have backed him for 

 1500 for a place." 



* Coming round Tattenham Corner, up went Brother-to- 

 Flurry's head, whereas Cremorne swept beautifully round it. 



O 



