THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



— commonly called Nando Bullock, his name having- been 

 Orlando — some amusing anecdotes are recorded, in reference to 

 his passion for race-riding. The following is a description of 

 a j-ace he once rode and won : — 



' I turned the last post,' said ho, ' snuf/ as murder ; now, 

 said I to myself, the pantomime is going to begin, and I think 

 I shall beat Mr, Merryraan.' (There was a horse called 

 Merryman in the race, and heavily backed to win.) Again, 

 when he broke his leg and thigh in a race, by his horse run- 

 ning against a post, he absolutely spurred the persons who 

 were carrying him upstairs to bed, with his other leg, so little 

 daunted was he by the n)isliap. He met his death by an 

 accident, at last, and was much regretted by his friends, for his 

 gfreat g:ood humour. 



Lords Charles Somerset, Milsington, and Delamere, rode 

 much at Bibury, and well — Lord Charles Somerset especially 

 — although they were all above the jockey height, as also was 

 Mr. Musters ; but Mr. Worral, one of the best of them, was cast 

 in the jockey mould. 



But to return to our young sportsman at Oxford. Having 

 enoaoed a tandem for the purpose, with four of the best gig- 

 horses that the Oxford stables could produce, Frank Raby and 

 his friend Hargrave thus arranged their plans for the approach- 

 ing Bibury Meeting. They sent two of the horses to Witney, 

 and by thus relieving those that brought them from Oxford, 

 they were enabled to go to, and return from, the course, and 

 be in their college at night — driving alternate stages, for the 

 furtherance of their mutual improvement in this hazardous 

 occupation, as well as for their mutual pleasure ; and all went 

 well for the first three days. Having a capital leader over the 

 last ground, who wanted nothing but holding, and keeping his 

 head straight, these aspiring youths dashed through the crowd, 

 threading the carriages and horses on the road, with such skill 

 and dexterity as to attract nnich notice — and, at length, that 

 of the Prince, who had l)een watching their manoeuvres on the 

 race-course. 



' Wlio are they ? ' inquired His Royal Higluiess of Mr. Lake. 



' I do not know their names, sir,' replied Mv. Lake, ' but I 

 understand they are Christchurch men.' 



' Ask their names,' resumed the Prince ; ' they will do, in 

 time, that is to say — if they don't break their necks' 



100 



