THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



Frank RaJy\j. — ' Then why was he sold ( ' 



Jack Webber'. — ' For two reasons. First, he fetched a good 

 price from a young carpet-manufacturer in the Borough, who 

 went down one day with me, and fell in love with him ; 

 secondly, he was a bad starter at one end of his ground. I 

 would never keep a bad starter, if I horsed a coach. They 

 are generally the best of cattle when once oflf, but they alarm 

 passengers, and get the coach a bad name. That horse twice 

 fell back with me, and once broke the main bar.' 



Frank Raby. — ' And what did he do with the carpet-manu- 

 facturer ? ' 



Jack Webber. — ' Frightened him out of his wits the first time 

 he put him to his drag.' 



Frank Raby. — ' But did he not know he was a bad starter ? ' 



Jack Webber. — ' Oh no ; he only saw him at the down change, 

 where he always went otf quietly.' 



Hargrave. — ' And how happened it that he would not start 

 well at the up change :* ' 



Jack Webber. — ' We had a cruel scoundrel of a horse-keeper 

 there who used to beat him with a broomstick, because he was 

 rather ticklish to dress. Horses have better memories than we 

 give them credit for.' 



Hargrave. — ' But why did he frighten the carpet-manufacturer, 

 whose servants, perhaps, never beat him ? ' 



Jack Webber. — ' Why, they put him down to the bottom of the 

 bit, whereas I always drove him to the cheek. And how has he 

 been starting with you, Frank '. ' 



Frank Raby. — ' Rather queerly, the hrst time, because he 

 did not like his side ; but since I have changed it, nothino- 

 can be better. No one who knew anything about puttino- 

 horses into harness would have put such a mouth as his 

 anywhere but to the cheek. I would not take 100 guineas 

 for him.' 



Sir JoJtn. — ' I remember just such an instance as that you 

 have been relating of this horse, in a grey mare that went at 

 wheel in the Worcester mail. At Benge worth, she was very 

 difficult to put to the coach at all ; but at Worcester she would 

 almost put herself to, and stand for half an hour. She had 

 some reason, no doubt, for her dislike to Benge worth.' 



Frank Raby. — ' How did they manage her at the down 

 change ? ' 



275 



