GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP 



pocket from Reid Walker saying that he had bought a 

 nice young four-year-old of this name. As soon as 1 

 saw the horse I liked him, but I presently perceived that 

 he was lame and guessed that he had been spun by Reid 

 Walker's vet. after he had written to me. This turned 

 out to be the case, and had the effect of bringing the 

 price down from the ^800 which Reid Walker was to 

 have given to the ;^45o which I gave. Of course I did 

 not take Kirkland until I discovered what was wrong 

 with him. My vet. could find nothing except a slight 

 thrush, and as I had a great many other horses to see 

 the vet. advised the application of a hardening lotion 

 to the frog, which would temporarily make the animal 

 sound supposing it were thrush from which he was 

 suff^ering. 



On my return a week later he was quite sound, and 

 so I bought him. In the meantime I had seen a little 

 horse win a race at Newcastle, and this one struck me 

 as I think no other animal I had seen in Ireland had 

 ever done. He was as fat as a bullock, and blew terribly 

 after winning his little race. I felt I could not leave 

 him, but I did not close the bargain for some days, as I 

 thought the price, .;^45o, excessive for so small a horse. 

 I afterwards refused two offers of ;6'3000 for him, as 

 Barclay Walker would not sell. I therefore had 

 obtained him and Kirkland, but I had not been able 

 to find a third that I thought it desirable to purchase. 

 The above mentioned little horse was Mr. Quilp. 



144 



