1 6 CHASING AND RACING 



them as a means to an end ; whereas my own particular 

 canine pals claimed a place even nearer to my heart 

 than some of the indispensable females of the human 

 race, who from time to time, claimed my temporary 

 allegiance. Of all my familiars none has been dearer 

 than a certain fox-terrier registered as Coxswain, 

 but known to me and my friends as Cockie. It 

 was from this little chap that I derived my own 

 sobriquet. A fair friend had declared that I and my 

 canine attendant were strangely alike, not only in 

 appearance, but also as regards temperament, and 

 that, therefore, it behoved all and sundry to address 

 us by the same name. As my terrier was a particu- 

 larly handsome specimen of his breed I raised no objec- 

 tion on the grounds of personal appearance ; but 

 when it came to a question of character, I was inclined 

 to demur, for my tyke was a rascal of the deepest 

 dye, and possessed of a cayenne pepper temper which 

 brooked no interference by any one except his master. 

 He was absolutely fearless of God, man, devil, or the 

 creatures of the wild, including the harmless, necessary 

 cat, against which he waged eternal warfare. Here 

 was a striking example of hereditary temperament 

 for his sire, Mr. Skinner's " General," was a holy 

 terror and when visited by the opposite sex, for the 

 purposes of eugenic propagation, it was always a toss- 

 up whether he would proceed to amorous gymnastics, 

 or would elect to tear the windpipe out of his would-be 

 inamorata. Cockie's dam was the darling of 



