34 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



craning his neck at the coverside of a 

 morning, and his hat jammed well in his 

 neck, you needn't ask any questions. Jack 

 meant going, and without bucketing his 

 horse at first, he was certain to be there 

 if they ran for two hours. One day he 

 bought Moorhen, by Hermit, a good-look- 

 ing, sizey mare, for, I think, 250 guineas. 

 This was in the days when hunt-chasers 

 had to be qualified by M.F.H. certifi- 

 cates, and not by being placed in a 

 steeplechase, as now ; and Moorhen won 

 many races, sometimes '* owner up," but 

 more generally piloted by Mr. Brockton, 

 without flying at very high game, but 

 still winning occasionally small open 

 hurdle races and steeplechases. He was 

 bid ;^i500 for Moorhen, but wouldn't 

 sell, although it hardly looked a " turning 

 away" price for a tenant farmer, but it 

 was all for the best, as she presently bred 



