394 LEAVES FROM A HUNTIN(; niARY 



had been caused by Gale's disaster, had advanced to second place, and 

 even the owner of the Favourite thought he looked dangerous, while old 

 " Carlo " was still " Boots," it being considered that but for the mistakes at 

 the brook of the second and third horses the old fellow could not have 

 beaten them. 



Another reason which brought the third and fourth horses into favour 

 notwithstanding their mishap was that by general consent and on the 

 proposition of "Carlo's" owner, though it might tell against his horse, 

 the winning post was removed much further up the slope and from the 

 brook, so that any horse stumbling or dwelling at the brook might have 

 more time to recover himself and perhaps then be a winner. 



In this state of things, and in the presence, as in the first heat, of some 

 fair young spectators from the adjoining Priory (which however is not a 

 " nunnery " as might otherwise be supposed), the flag was dropped for the 

 second time, and again an excellent start was effected, the first flight of 

 hurdles being cleared by all the horses abreast. But "Carlo's" Jock 

 having perceived his error in the first heat, in not having placed sufficient 

 confidence in the old horse's powers, and feeling also that the old fellow 

 had disposed of some of his beans, and so that his wind might now be 

 trusted, here forced the running and led over the remaining four flights of 

 hurdles and brought his horse first to the brook, so that he could not be 

 shut out as in the first heat. The Favourite, however, fearing for his 

 laurels, made play at a tremendous pace, so that " Carlo " could scarcely 

 get a length ahead of him. It was a good race between Newman and 

 Gale up to the brook, though they contended only for the honour of 

 third place and to avoid being Boots, but Gale refused the brook and 

 was then both Boots and distanced. "Carlo" cleared the brook in the 

 old horse's usual style, a little in advance of Jack ; the advantage was 

 increased by the latter stumbling on landing, but he recovered himself so 

 quickly and tried so hard to win the race by winning this heat that it was 

 not without a severe struggle that "Carlo" went in a winner by a 

 couple of lengths with Jack second and Newman an indifferent third. 

 Gale was "distanced;" as already stated, his Jock said his horse 

 had broken down and he did not like to risk him at the brook, though 

 competent judges thought otherwise, and that it was a case of funk, and 

 their opinion was confirmed by the fact that in larking homewards, in 

 which the Judge was induced to join and surprised himself as much as 

 he astonished his friends by his unexpected prowess across country, and 

 especially in riding over the course (with the exception of the brook). 

 Gale proved himself to be a better fencer than some of the horses who 

 had beaten him, and quite as sound. 



Newman was drawn by his owner after the second heat, and it 

 being thus left only to the two Blackmore nags, their owners wisely 

 divided the stakes, contenting themselves with having preserved the 

 honour of their county, though perhaps not showing so much wisdom in 

 other respects, for the owner of the favourite was as unreasonably dejected 

 as "Carlo's" owner was elated at the unexpected issue of the steeple- 

 chase, especially of the second heat, where there was no fouling. However 

 a quiet whisper from " Carlo's" owner in the ear of his late opponent soon 

 put all right, and the larking over the Priory meadows dispelled every 

 other feeling than those of unalloyed pleasure, and certainly made the old 

 fellow feel how delightful it was to become a boy again if only for an 

 hour or two. 



A pardonable vanity, perhaps, or rather a pleasurable feeling that the 

 cares and anxieties of business have not as yet (though I frequently fear 



