CHASING AND RACING 217 



you mean, sir ? I don't know what you're talking 

 about.'* 



It was in 1892 that I hied me to Aintree in hope of 

 killing two birds with one stone, viz. the winning of 

 the County Cup on Trelaske, and witnessing the Grand 

 National. The first consideration failed to materialize 

 by a length, though I was proxime accessit ; but I viewed 

 the great cross-country event complacently. 



The previous evening, after racing, I came across 

 Roddy and offered him a lift in my carriage — there 

 were no cars in those days — back to the Adelphi, 

 Liverpool, where we were both staying. 



" Thanks, Cockie," he said, " but I won't ride. 

 I'll shove on a sweater and just hang on behind. I'm 

 2 lbs. above weight for to-morrow (he was to ride 

 Father O'Flynn at 10 stone 5 lbs.), that ought to do the 

 trick." And sure enough it did, for he was in a 

 profuse sweat by the time we reached our haven of rest. 

 After a bath and a rub down he found to his joy that 

 the ** too solid flesh " had melted, so that on the morrow 

 he was able to do the weight easily, and, what is more, 

 to win " the Blue Ribbon of the Leppers " in gallant 

 fashion, as history relates. Of course I backed my 

 friend's mount " each way," and packed up a nice little 

 parcel. 



Poor Roddy ! his was a squalid end ; for, all too 

 young, he contracted cholera when on military service 

 in Egypt, and perished miserably. 



'' Truly a very gallant gentleman ! " 



