ORGANISED STEEPLECHASING 33 



horse had rricide nearly the circuit of the Park. Mr. 

 Stubbs was off and on the ground as soon as ever he 

 could pull up, and persuaded a Mr. Caldwell to have 

 a ride. Coleman was out on that day, and the next 

 thinor he saw was Sober Robin sailing: along- with his 

 mouth bleeding, taking every fence in a big country 

 in his stride. 



When Mr. Caldwell came home from hunting, he 

 assured Coleman that Sober Robin was worth five 

 hundred o^uineas as a hunter. Now there was a hunters' 

 stake at Enfield which Coleman fancied that he could 

 win with a mare named Harriette if the pace were made 

 strong enough. He therefore wrote to Mr. Osbaldeston 

 offering him the mount. When he was mounted, the 

 Squire asked Coleman how he should ride him, saying, 

 " I always ride exactly to orders, and then they cannot 

 say afterwards that I ought to have ridden differently." 

 Coleman's riding orders were "jump off and set the 

 others going, then pull Sober Robin back gently and 

 wait." Directly Mr. Osbaldeston touched the horse 

 with his heel he was off like the proverbial rocket, 

 galloping like a mad horse. The Squire, who could 

 neither hold nor steer Sober Robin, went the wrong side 

 of half-a-dozen posts ; but he made the pace and 

 Harriette won. Coleman met the Squire returning 

 white with exertion and passion, so he deemed it politic 

 to make a beginning : — 



Coleman. "Why, Squire, you did not ride the horse as I told 

 you." 



Sqtiire. "You infernal scoundrel for putting me upon such a 

 dangerous brute. I thought I never should have stopped him." 



Coleman. "I thought you were a horseman, Squire." 



Squire. " You deserve to be horsewhipped, you infernal scoundrel ; 

 I might have been killed." 



Coleman. " Why, I have a little boy at home, little Sam Mann, that 

 rides him in a snaffle bridle." 



Squire. " You and your little boy be d d." 



C 



