56 THE LIFE OF A HUNTER 



having my clothes pulled off, being punched 

 in the ribs, my windpipe squeezed, my 

 feet lifted, and run up and down the 

 yard. Till Sunday afternoon I was left 

 in peace, but then, again, I was constantly 

 having my mouth looked at, and I slept that 

 night with a taste of dirty fingers, dogskin, 

 and cigar-ends in my mouth. Monday 

 morning was a repetition of Saturday, but 

 I noticed that nearly everyone who inspected 

 my mouth paid little further attention to me, 

 as I had only a three-year-old mouth. About 

 eleven o'clock I got wild with a Vet., who 

 made rushes at me, and stuck his top-hat 

 over my eyes, and nipped me on my loins. 

 I began to plunge and let out freely with my 

 heels, and very nearly brained my future 

 master, who was standing against the wall 



