158 The Hunting Field With Horse and Hound 



derstand it," continued the Colonel, much more worked up 

 about it than I was. "I saw the owner and two of liis grooms 

 out on good ones," I remarked. "He must have had a customer 

 for two or three and was having them ridden to sell. I wish 

 I had gone down to the stable with you. I'll tell you what," 

 added the Colonel, "you stay over to-morrow and I will give 

 you a mount." I remonstrated. "I've twelve hunters in the 

 stables, one sort and another," replied the Colonel, taking no 

 heed to my remarks. "They are all kicking their boxes to 

 pieces for want of work, and if you will stay you can have a 

 mount and welcome." I said that it was too much. But the 

 Colonel insisted. "I don't want you to go back to New York 

 until you have had a day with the Quorn. I should really 

 feel badly to think of it. What do you ride at?" he asked. 

 "I weigh 186 pounds." "Let me see, fourteen pounds to 

 the stone, that means a good horse." "Yes," I said, "and I 



really " "That's all right," broke in the Colonel. "I ride 



nearly that weight myself. I was thinking what horse to give 

 you." He closed his eyes and went over the list on his fingers 

 until he came to, "Ah! yes, that's it, Richard — Richard the 

 Bay: he is an Irish horse and as good as they make them. All 

 you have to do is to sit still, give him his head at the jumps and 

 he will pull you through any country where a horse can go." 

 I stayed, and the day I had on "Richard the Bay" I shall 

 remember as long as I live. 



