DICK CHRISTIAN'S LECTURE. 367 



laid twenty to one against me. He was a little 

 horse, very hot ; my eyes, such a jumper ! I didn't 

 keep long with them, but took a line by myself. 

 Vyvian got first round to the flag, and then the 

 Marquis, and then I. The Marquis was going wide, 

 and shouts I, " My Lord, where are you going to ?" 

 I slipped right up to Vyvian, and hang me if I'd 

 leave him ; didn't Becher just go on at me ! Every 

 fence it was, " Dick, you'll be on the top of me ; 

 pray, Dick, do keep off." That was it all the way 

 back ; I wouldn't have it ; I says, ' ' This is my line, 

 and here I'll stick ;" and I did too. I'd got my 

 horse as fast as wax, and I thought win I must. We 

 were in the air together over the last fence ; then 

 Becher he sets at his horse, and he just shoves his 

 head afore me. Now, I says, I'll see what I've got, 

 and, blame me, if my horse didn't stop dead as if he 

 was shot. I called to them to turn his head to the 

 wind, or he would be down ; I never got him past 

 the post ; he went back'ards, he was so beat ; he 

 never got above two miles before or since that day ; 

 he was a bad-hearted one, but very brilliant ; that's 

 as nice a ride as ever I had ; how he did jump, to be 

 sure ! When Becher got back to the weighing tent, 

 he spoke up, " Gentlemen, if I had Christian's nerve, 

 I'd give all I have in the world." 



I've had lots of accidents, I've had my shoulder 

 out, this here leg broke, and two of my ribs; I never 

 broke my collar bone, I'm so precious thick set 

 there, they can't get at it. Horses, bless you ! I've 

 known 'em get out cf a ditch, and put their fore-feet 

 on each of my shoulders ; my coat's been all split up 

 by them. I broke two ribs from a dog-cart when I 

 was seventy-six. I thought I wur done that time ; 

 it brought on erysipelas ; I must be as hard as nails ; 

 both wheels were on my legs ; it was done in Bing- 

 ham Town ; some old woman saw it. I take a deal 

 of breaking up; I never see no fear,, not even now, 



