OVER A DISTANCE OF GROUND. 1S7 



which was so graphically described by the late Mr. George 

 Payne, who was at the time in confederacy with INIr. Charles 

 Greville, we will give the narrative in Mr. Payne's own 

 words, as recounted by him at the Turf Club on the evening 

 of the occurrence — his words : but the manner of the man 

 cannot be rendered on paper. 



Went down with old Greville to Alec's to try — never was such 

 a morning. When we got on to the downs it was worse than ever, 

 blowing great guns, and raining in sheets, I give you my word. 

 There was a haystack with a ladder up against it ; decided to make 

 that the winning-post — stuck Greville half-way up the ladder, and 

 told him to look sharp as to how they finished. Says he, * But I 

 can't see.' ' Not see ! Stuff and nonsense, 3^ou must see — beautiful 

 day for seeing' [aside : ' Couldn't have seen an elephant fifty yards 

 off to save my life']. Left him. Alec gone to start 'em fair. I 

 went half-way to see what had the best of it there. On they came, 

 thought it as right as the mail. Alec came bustling up, and we 

 cut on as hard as we could to the haystack. ' Now then, Charles, 

 what's won? what's won?' and there he was with his face to the 



stack holding on like grim death, and his d d old cloak blown 



right over his head. 'What's won!' says he. 'How can / tell 

 what's won ; this thing got over my eyes as soon as you left, and 

 there it's been ever since.' Never was such a go ! Horses had a 

 regular dusting, boys could tell us nothing. Deuce of a job to get 

 Charles off the ladder ; when he was down swore he was wet to 

 the skin, and would have the gout. Hustled him into a fly and 



drove him to Marlborough ; couldn't buy a shirt in the whole d d 



place ; bought hrni a smock frock though, and clapped that on next 

 his skin, and it scrubbed him like fun all the long way up to town, 

 ril be bound. Ha ! ha ! ha ! Now then, who's for a rubber? 



Could anybody ever turn a contretemps to such good 

 account as G. P. ? 



In a previous chapter Corrie Ray and Hampton have been 

 specially mentioned as winners over a distance of ground who 

 did not require what used to be considered the indispensable 

 long distance preparation. It has come to pass that the theory 

 and practice of running horses big and a bit above themselves 

 has nowhere taken such a hold on trainers as at Newmarket, 



