Echoes of the Hunting Horn 



your wits' end, when you hear tidings of a marvellous 

 horse belonging to a young fellow who met with an 

 accident and who lives only five miles from the town. 

 By the description given, this is the horse of your dreams. 

 You decide to see him and take the bearer of the tidings 

 along in the car as guide. This little wizened-up 

 blocker earns his living bargain-making in horse-fairs, 

 and is all anxiety about the impending deal, and even 

 if only five per cent, of his stories are truthful, the 

 object of his praise must still be a wonder-horse. 



Reaching the farmhouse, you get through the usual 

 preliminaries as hastily as possible, and then see the 

 horse. Yes, he looks the part ! And the price is fairly 

 reasonable. Six years old; did some hunting; should 

 suit if he is sound. Better examine him thoroughly 

 first; need not handle his limbs, he is flawless. He 

 jogs magnificently ! a perfect mover. Better test his 

 sight before riding him, just in case ... a darkened 

 stable and a candle settles the matter. Put the saddle 

 on. What a front and rein-length ! 



" You can jump those three leaps to the oatsfield," 

 said the limping young owner, " but there's wire in 

 the others." He shoots away from your heel-touch, 

 eager for the first fence, a low bank; over like a swallow ! 

 Next is a high, narrow bank, going rather fast, but he 

 changes feet like a cat and races on gloriously for a 

 stone wall. Oh, marvellous ! Dublin Horse Show 

 would be only child's-play to him. This is your horse 

 at last. You may haggle about the price, but you must 

 buy him. The fact that he turns for the home journey 

 quicker than you expected is swamped by your arguing 



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