Htmting tn the Golden Days. 6i 



" * Have you settled yourself all right now ? ' asked the 

 Calmer. 



" ' Yes, I'm all right now ; let him go.' 



" As the men let go the horse gave a wild spring into the 

 air, and with vicious half-rears and plunges, something 

 after the motion of kangaroo leaps, he made for a clump of 

 trees at the lower end of the meadow, no doubt with the 

 idea of carrying his rider through at racing pace, and 

 thus ridding himself of his burden. These tricks he had 

 tried before, with very great success, on many sports- 

 men ; but the veteran rider had met the likes of him 

 before, and with a fierce cut of the ashplant across the 

 side of his head he brought him to his right bearings 

 again. Seeing that he had an artist on his back 

 who seemed disinclined to leave. Ginger now began a 

 series of double-barrelled quick-action bucks, his head 

 well tucked in between his fore-legs during the perform- 

 ance. But still old Grumpier sat as tight as wax, 

 apparently enjoying his ride, for he now fancied that he 

 would be able to claim the prize, and a smile of satis- 

 faction played about the corners of his mouth as he 

 thought that — 



Something attempted, something done, 

 Will earn a night's repose. 



" But Ginger was not to be beaten. There was 

 nothing left now for him to try but his piece de resist- 

 ance, and that was executed by his rearing straight up 

 and falling backwards on poor Grumpier, who received 

 a rare squeezing. He, however, rose, covered with 

 muck and mire, with a smile still on his homely coun- 

 tenance, saying that he hoped a fall like that would not 

 disqualify him for the ten shillings. 



"'No, I don't call that being pitched,' said the 



