298 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



Mr. Douglas was delighted to meet with an adventure so entirely 

 to his taste, so then and there the day and hour was fixed for the 

 match to come off — a fortnight from that time. 



It is a long-ago story, but I well remember the excitement it cre- 

 ated in the m&nage at Elleray, and the unusual care bestowed upon 

 the cob, — how his feet were kept in cold cloths, and how he was 

 fed, and gently exercised daily. In short, the mystery about all the 

 ongoings at the stable was most interesting, and we began to regard 

 with something akin to awe the hitherto not more than commonly 

 cared for animal. 



At last the day anxiously looked for arrived. Full of glee and 

 excitement we ran — sisters and brothers — down the sloping fields, 

 to take a seat upon the top of a wall that separated us from the road, 

 and where we could see the starting-point. " Colonsay" was led in 

 triumph to meet his fashionable rival, whose " get-up" was certainly 

 excellent. Both rider and horse wore an air of the turf, while my 

 father, in common riding dress, mounted his somewhat ordinary- 

 looking steed, just as a gentleman would do going to take his morn- 

 ing ride. At last, after many manoeuvres of a knowing sort, Mr. 

 Douglas declared himself ready to start, and off they set, in pace 

 very fairly matched, — at least so it seemed to us from the Elleray 

 gate. 



To Lowood, as far as I remember, was the distance for this trial. 

 Umpires were stationed at their respective points on the road, and 

 Billy Banner kept a steady eye from his station upon " Colonsay," 

 whose propensity for dashing in at open gates was feared might ruin 

 his chance of winning. Meantime, the juvenile band on the wall, 

 along with Mrs. Wilson, were keeping eager watch for the messen- 

 ger who was to bring intelligence of the conquering hero ; and how 

 great was their delight when in due time they heard that " Colonsay" 

 had won the day ; Mr. Douglas's much boasted of trotter having 

 broken into a canter. 



This trotting match with the handsome adventurer, was the origin 

 of " Christopher on Colonsay" in the pages of Blackwood, which 

 did not appear, however, till ten years afterwards. 



