CHASING AND RACING 51 



obstacle, pausing a moment, and then of lifting himself, 

 all fours at once; and even so, he invariably cleared with- 

 out a rap. The first time I rode him at a five-barred 

 gate, I was not prepared for this sort of thing. Conse- 

 quently I was jerked out of the saddle, and sent an 

 imperial toss which left me guessing ; but next time 

 I was ready, and on one occasion, in the Vale of 

 Aylesbury, I bet that I would take Yeoman over three 

 full-sized five-barred gates in a line, and that he would 

 not touch one of them. I won the wager all right. 

 But this charming little chestnut was troubled with 

 the slows. He was good enough for the " red 

 currant " business, but when it came to hunting the 

 wily red-skin he was apt to be like the proverbial cow's 

 tail — " all behind," — a very unbecoming position for 

 the huntsman master ! So after much heart-burning 

 and perturbation of mind I sold Yeoman to a pal, Tom 

 Farries, partner of that peerless sportsman and prince 

 of gentlemen, " Uncle Punch " Burbidge, and right 

 well did the beloved cob carry his new owner. 



I have a different story to tell of another of my 

 Belhus purchases, to wit, one Melbury, a rich 

 brown, standing quite 16.2. He came originally from 

 the West country, and was the offspring of a Queen's 

 Premium stallion travelling in that district. I have no 

 exact information regarding his dam ; but was told she 

 was " a van mare.'* She may herself have had a blood 

 cross, but undoubtedly she also had the bar sinister ; 

 for Melbury was inclined to be a bit hairy about 



