VICIOUS HORSES 231 



to allow him to ride this 14-2 cob instead of a 

 stable-boy. The result was disastrous. 



The novice, arrayed in white breeches, elegant 

 butcher boots, and alarmingly long-necked spurs, 

 was cautioned against his mount, and, above all, 

 told to take his formidable spurs off, or the 

 trainer would not answer for the consequences. 

 The novice haughtily refused. " You're welcome 

 to ride him in spurs so far as I'm concerned," said 

 the trainer ; " but if anything happens please don't 

 blame me." 



Directly they got off, the novice lost his head. 

 On this diminutive racehorse he made the running, 

 and, finding the pace too hot, he did his best to 

 pull up. He tugged at his reins, leant back in his 

 saddle, did everything he knew to prevent the 

 pace growing more and more like an express train 

 — to no purpose. 



With bit tightly between his teeth, this minia- 

 ture "blood 'un" went quicker and quicker, for, 

 unknowingly to his rider, the sharp rowels went 

 deep in, drawing blood and sending the pace- 

 maker frenzied. The horses behind came along 

 too, making matters worse, causing the frenzied 

 leader to forget all else except a desire to increase 

 the pace. The winning-post was passed in the 

 best time he ever made, as going harder than 

 ever he whizzed by and made straight for home. 



As they neared the stable, rider and ridden 

 were oblivious to all else. Neither were less 

 frightened than the other — at headlong pace, 

 when turning a sharp corner round the village 

 street, quite close to the training stable, the novice 



