GOOD-BYE. 279 



acquaintances of his former owner in remembrance of 

 whom he acquired the name of "Old Martin" was 

 repurchased by T soon after we came out. Al- 

 though by this time he was a long way past his prime, 

 he was still considerably the best of all our horses, and 

 for pluck and endurance we have never seen his equal. 

 At the end of the longest day's journey even though 

 it had covered sixty miles he would come in pulling 

 as hard as at the start, and apparently as fresh. No 

 matter how poor his condition and South African 

 horses do indeed get poor during long droughts he 

 was at all times equally ready for work. We never 

 insulted him by carrying so unnecessary an article as 

 a whip ; for he did everything with a will, and whether 

 cantering, trotting, or only walking, always seemed to 

 be endeavouring to run away with you. As a lady's 

 horse he was simply perfect, all his paces being equally 

 delightful for the rider. 



In former times T and his four-footed namesake 



had gone through many adventures together ; and now, 

 when after the lapse of years these two friends and 

 comrades met again, the old horse instantly recog- 

 nised his master with unmistakeable signs of pleasure. 



One of these early adventures came very near costing 



the good grey his life. T , during a journey on 



horseback, came one evening to a river crossed by an 

 open railway-bridge consisting only of iron girders. 

 To save time and avoid a circuitous route he decided 

 to take a somewhat reckless short cut and lead the 

 horse over that bridge. In this Blondin-like fashion they 



