"I'd a lead of them all rvhen xice came to the brook, 

 A big one. a bumper and up to your chin. 

 As he threw it behind him I turned for a look, 

 There were eight of us at it and seven got in. 

 Then he shook his lean head ichile he heard them go flop, 

 This Clipper that stands in the stall at the top." 



Old Hunting Song. 



XIV 



TWO DAYS WITH THE QUORN (SECOND DAY) 



RICHARD THE BAY — THE MEET — THE CHASE — THE BROOK — 

 COLONEL RICHARDSON. 



WELL, groom," said I, on entering the stable early the 

 next morning, "How is Richard the Bay? He must 

 be very fit after a rest of two weeks." 



" 'E's as fit as can be, sir," answered the groom, with a dab 

 at his cap. "Are you the gentleman as master said is going to 

 ride him to-day, sir?" 



"Yes," I replied, "I came in to have a look at him." 



"Just so, sir, just so. 'E's in this 'ere box, sir. Master 

 thinks a lot of this 'ere 'orse. 'E do for a fact, sir." 



Then the groom went on, thinking I might be a purchaser, 

 with the usual stable lingo, which would probably have been 

 the same had it been any other of the Colonel's twelve horses 

 that I wanted to see. 



We entered the box, and as the groom stripped off the 

 blankets, Richard let both heels fly at them as much as to say 

 "good riddance to you." 



