COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 223 



were sworn to secrecy and paid ten guineas each ; 

 Duke of Athol and Baker, the African traveller, 

 among the pupils. When the lecture commenced I 

 ventured to ask Mr. Rarey how he caught the horse 

 before he put the strap on him. He said, " It is no 

 use talking to a boy if he can't hear you, or to a horse 

 on a prairie, you must get him into a compound ". 



John Waite, Lord Rothes' groom, brought over 

 a pony which would not be clipped. Rarey laid it 

 down, but it never ceased to kick when it heard the 

 clip of the scissors. I returned in the steam-boat 

 with Waite. He had had a glass and was very 

 proud of having " licked Rarey ". 



Rarey was the bravest man I ever saw. He 

 would let a horse kick close to his head without ever 

 winking. He was a good horse-tamer, but no horse- 

 man. Sir George Chetwynd had him at Grendon, 

 and mounted him with the Atherstone Hounds, but 

 he was no use out hunting. 



On the 7th June I went to Trinity Muir Fair at 

 Brechin. Met Adam Thomson (the laird) showing 

 a horse to some young gentlemen. He whispered 

 me, " Make a bid for this horse, and I know these 



gents will buy it ". I said, " You be d d, I 



didn't come here to tout for you ". He took off his 

 hat, made a low bow, and said, " Thank you, sir, I am 

 very sorry I cannot accept your offer ". 



2nd September. Went to the Highland Society 

 Show at Aberdeen. It rained in torrents the whole 

 time. 



loth September. Went to Osberton for Don- 



