30 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



and at the back of them a temper that was hard 

 for me to master accompanied as I was. One 

 morning he came from his stall dead lame in the 

 off fore-leg but after a touch with the whip and a 

 run round the yard the lameness was in one of his 

 hind legs. By far the most troublesome day was 

 when, forgetful of his age or determined to impose 

 upon my innocence, he capered like a colt before 

 he could be got between the shafts, or, perhaps, it 

 was to show me what a terrible time we should 

 have if I did not allow him to go the road he 

 wished and stop when he pleased. It was most 

 unfortunate that we had decided on a lengthy 

 journey to Brayford for he objected, indeed, refused, 

 to go a yard beyond the inn at Sherracombe. I 

 gave him a sounding whack, but the only notice he 

 took of it was to turn his head to see if his friend 

 was with me and, having satisfied himself on that 

 point, he sat back in the breeching, which just 

 held him up from sitting on the ground. Think- 

 ing to humour him I got out and ordered a pint of 

 cider, some of which I drank before his nose, but 

 with no good result, so I jumped out and got him 

 a drink of water and, as that was fruitless, too, tried 

 the whip again ; but not as I intended, for there 

 was a hand that stayed my arm. I had seen divers 

 experiments made to start jibbing horses but there 

 was only one method I dared to try. Full of hope 

 I gathered up the reins, leaped upon his back, 

 smacked his neck, and cried loudly: ''Tally ho! 

 Tally ho ! " He forgot his sulks, his age, the cart 

 and the lady seated there, and started off with ears 

 bent forward listening for the dogs. The playful 

 lift of his hind quarters, as he spun round the first 



