236 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



hunting, and had on more than one occasion pounded 

 the whole field. It struck me the widest jumper in 

 all Lincolnshire and my friend the dauntless farmer 

 would be well matched; it ended in niy allowing 

 him to try ' Lincoln ' at a brook that had been con- 

 sidered in the hunt as impassable without a boat or 

 taking a cold bath. The price was agreed upon if 

 the horse did it : he did it and to spare. I drew 

 50L, taking in exchange decidedly one of the 

 cleverest hunters I ever had, and eventually sold 

 him at a hundred and fifty, when fourteen years 

 old.' 1 



And here is another story, showing how the price 



of a horse may make a vast rise in a short time. 

 6 Some summers ago, a horse found its way into the 

 stable of a celebrated dealer in Piccadilly, that, like 

 a young lady of great beauty and fortune on her 

 first appearance at Court, created quite a sensation 

 amongst a certain set, known for their exclusive 

 notions respecting women and horses. The West 

 End was in a state of excitement. Four hundred 

 pounds had been offered to, and refused by, this 

 spirited dealer in hard bargains, who himself had 

 given three hundred for him. The fame of the nag 

 spread even beyond Bow Bells, and a brother dealer 

 from the neighbourhood of Romford found his business 

 stand still nobody would come to his yard till the 



1 Harry Hieover Stable Talk and Table Talk. 



