134 " MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE ! " 



but Dr Hayman never appreciated his importance. In 

 this connection the following letter is rather illuminating. 

 It was written in the spring of 1870, a few days after the 

 Grand Military meeting over the old Rugby course on iyth 

 and i8th March, where Mr P. Merton won on the Robber, 

 and Lord Charles Ker on Knockany. E. P. Wilson 

 also rode a winner or two, as did Colonel Knox, and 

 " Bay " Middleton rode once or twice : 



We have had great amusement this week. The grand military 

 steeplechases have been going on, and we have lost all our money 

 and feel better for it. I have sold the large-eared pup for 2, IDS. 



We were discovered to-day with our dogs by Patey, the School 

 Marshal, who announced his intention of getting this business 

 settled. After much thought, we decided that the best thing 

 would be to anticipate Patey in going to Hayman, and tell the 

 Doctor the facts of the case and complain of the insolent conduct 

 of Patey. This we did with perfect success. Hayman thought 

 nothing of our having dogs, and quite agreed with us that the 

 wretched Patey had behaved in an improper manner, so that this 

 individual will get what he has not bargained for when he goes to 

 tell his tale. 



Poor Patey ! It was really a shame to deal with him 

 in this fashion, for we had been utterly in the wrong. 

 It was a Sunday afternoon when the incident occurred, 

 and our dogs had just caught two rabbits. An angry 

 farmer had intervened, and it was at this juncture that 

 Patey appeared on the scene and declared his intention 

 of " getting this business settled," but Dr Hayman fully 

 agreed that our position in the school was such that Patey 

 had no right to interfere with us. Moreover, that same 

 week Patey had noted our presence in the enclosure at the 

 Grand Military, when he was prowling around outside to 

 find out who was there. Of course we were not at calling 

 over that afternoon, and when next morning he came in 

 with the list and handed it to the Doctor, those whose 

 names were marked were, as usual, asked for their ex- 

 planation. My name came first, and I at once said : 

 "Late." Then came Stuart Wortley. "Late," said he. 

 Patey thereupon broke out : " You were not late ; you were 



