156 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



" Bad scran to ye, for a murdherin' baste," said he ; 

 " ye're miglity fond iv scratching your rusty bones agin 

 the trees, but ye don't put me down that way." Re- 

 placing his hat, he found that the " fittings " had got lost 

 in the tussle, and, as he cast a glance behind at the 

 strewed fragments of the paper lying along his path he 

 made some caustic remarks about paper-chasing, which 

 were drowned in a further torrent of invective on the 

 poor old mare, as he vainly tried all sorts of ways to array 

 himself comfortably again in the now ear-crushing and 

 blindfolding headgear. At last he drew forth his red 

 bandana, which he folded cushion-like, and placed on 

 the back of his head, and thus wedged on the beaver. 

 Half the handkerchief protruded below the rim, and was 

 a subject of inquisitive scrutiny to many of the bucolic 

 beholders, who were not at all sure but that it formed an 

 integral part of the wonderful hat itself. Well away 

 from her stable, the old mare went quietly enough, and 

 nothing further of note occurred during the half-mile 

 ride to Blazeaway Hill. 



The news of the event had indeed " travelled like 

 wildfire," and the top of the hillside, from which a com- 

 manding view of the course was obtainable, was thronged 

 with a merry crowd, and many small bets were ex- 

 changed, Donovan being favourite, at 20 to 1 on. Knots 

 of people assembled at various points along the course, 

 which was over an easy line of country ; the stiff er 

 fences and the fifteen-foot brook, which had to be 

 negotiated by the competitors, forming the chief points 



