144 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



you'll win ! " His mare jumped the fence, 

 and stopped short in the ride, and I can 

 see Charlie's legs and coat-tails now, as 

 he took a header Into the gorse and 

 bramble bush. We got the remains home 

 somehow, but he was In sticking-plaster 

 for many days. Charlie's father was con- 

 nected with the Turkish embassy In some 

 way, and the sultan sent him over a 

 small sack of the most lovely tobacco, 

 which landed ultimately at our place. 

 I have respected the sultan ever since, 

 in spite of the very playful manner in 

 which he humbugs our Foreign Office. 



Red-letter days used to come thick and 

 fast, and what fun we had one spring with 

 the puppies ! I reckon my father and 

 I have just about walked a pack of 

 hounds, but I have been most unlucky 

 in getting runners with the pack — dis- 

 temper, twisted legs, or something always 



