188 THE HORSE IN HISTORY 



Selwyn must in several ways have been a re- 

 markable character, but it is with his horseman- 

 ship only that we have here to deal. On the 

 occasion, then, of a great stag hunt which the 

 queen had arranged should take place in the 

 park at Oaklands, Selwyn was ''chief in attend- 

 ance " — in other words, huntsman. 



Suddenly, as we are told, a stag was started. 



When it had been hunted only a short time, a 

 fear was expressed by the queen that it would 

 escape, "the animal having proved of such un- 

 usual swiftness that it was feared the hounds 

 would not be able to overtake it." 



Determined that this should not happen, " Sel- 

 wyn pressed spurs to his horse, and galloping at 

 an angle, and sideways," succeeded in coming 

 alongside the stag as it was about to turn off 

 abruptly. 



At once the enthusiasm and excitement of the 

 spectators, especially of the queen, became in- 

 tense ; nor did it abate when they saw Selwyn, 

 still galloping at top speed, neck and neck with 

 the stag, suddenly vault right off his horse's 

 back on to the stag's, " where he kept his seat 

 gracefully in spite of every effort of the affrighted 

 beast to throw him off." 



Thus he galloped on for some yards, the queen 

 and all the spectators wondering what he would 

 do next. They were not kept long in suspense. 

 Of a sudden Selwyn swiftly but calmly drew 



