54 LIFE OF TEGETMEIER 



to convey his bird to the rendezvous, usually the 

 public-house where the ' fly ' has been organised. 

 This time, of course, varies with the distance. 

 After securing the ' voyageur,' the owner loses 

 not an instant in conveying it to the goal. Not 

 infrequently relays of one or two quick runners 

 are arranged, and the bird is passed from hand 

 to hand with the greatest celerity. 



" Well do I recollect my first race. The ' fly ' 

 was from Gravesend — a favourite spot in that 

 pre-railway time, as being easy of access by 

 steamers. There were ten competitors. The 

 birds had been sent down the river by the first 

 boat in the morning, in charge of three or four 

 persons, to see fair-play. John was up in the 

 loft on the look-out to catch my bird (the best 

 1 grizzle skinnum ' I had bred that year) as 

 soon as he pitched. The rendezvous was about 

 a quarter of a mile off ; and he was to run with 

 the bird half that distance, whilst I was to 

 convey it the remainder. From the corner where 

 I stood I could see the loft of another competitor. 

 As I was waiting, I anxiously scanned his flight 

 of birds that were being driven up by him with 

 a long, light pole as they tried to settle to feed ; 

 for to get them to come into the area directly 

 the racing bird had joined them on lus return, 

 they had been kept without food all day. At 

 last I saw his head disappear in the ' dormer ' ; 

 his flight settled. I saw the blue dragon that 

 had returned from Gravesend. The birds all ran 

 into the area for the handful of tares he had 

 thrown in ; the trap-door of the area closed ; I 

 knew he had caught his bird, and that in ten 

 seconds he would burst from the door of the 

 house, and be first at the ' Blue Lion.' And 

 where was mv bird ? At that instant John 



