6o Hunting in the Golden Days. 



he continued to one of his men, ' just run over to 

 Grumpier and tell him I want him for half an hour or so.' 



** Now Grumpier was a professional horse-breaker who 

 lived in the village and was supposed to be an immaculate 

 horseman, and never to have parted company with his 

 horse unless they both came down together to mother 

 earth. Before very long he arrived. He was a little, 

 thin, old man, with his head bent slightly over to his 

 left shoulder, doubtless an honour received whilst in 

 battle royal with a youngster in his earlier days. He 

 had furthermore lost one eye and had a nasty scar 

 about the region of the mouth, both evidently caused 

 by a severe kick from a horse. 



" * Do you think you could ride this chestnut horse r ' 

 enquired the Galmer. 



*' * Gan a fish swim,' quickly came the reply. 



" ' All right, get up, then, and if you can stick to him for 

 ten minutes, I'll give you — well, I'll give you ten shillings.' 



" The Grumpier was soon in the saddle at the scent of 

 half-a-sovereign, but he was not there two seconds 

 before he found that he had a rum customer to deal with, 

 for with a terrific buck and a plunge Ginger sends the 

 little man flying over his head. Nobody thought it likely 

 that he was hurt, and the question was, of course, not 

 asked ; had not the Grumpier the reputation of being 

 made of old leather ? 



*' * Give me another chance for that half-sovereign, 

 governor. I wasn't half seated that time, and hadn't 

 got my feet in the stirrups, or I warrant he wouldn't 

 have shifted me.' 



" 'All right,' said the dealer, with great magna- 

 nimity, * one more chance.' 



" He then was given a leg up, two men holding on to 

 the horse's head while he mounted. 



