2i8 ' The Best Fourteen-Hander in England, 



had not the heart to take her away from the young farmer now 

 that I saw she was hkely to be the means of retrieving his fallen 

 fortunes. I had won the cup, and had picked up a little in bets 

 and stakes. Even my old friend, much as he coveted such a prize, 

 seemed to think that it would be acting badly towards the young 

 farmer if we took her away from him 3 and, moreover, he observed, we 

 could do nothing unless we had the lad who rode her as well — and 

 he would not have such a boy on his premises for ten times the 

 worth of the mare. So, much to the joy of the trainer and the 

 young farmer, I gave back the mare, took back the money I had 

 paid, and left Hollerton with the inward satisfaction always atten- 

 dant upon the consciousness of having done a good action, and satis- 

 fied with the reflection that without the aid of the one-eyed mare I 

 should certainly never have brought away the Hollerton Cup on 

 this occasion. 



For two years after that I often used to see the little mare's 

 name, which, however, was now changed, at the head of the poll 

 amongst the best of company 3 but it w^as the last time I ever at- 

 tended Hollerton Races, and I rarely saw aov of that party again, 

 for they all lived on the far side of the country. 



