66 IRiDino IRecoUcctions anD Hurt Stories 



him across to the Birdcage, still bleeding. We 

 cleaned his nose and mouth as well as we could, and 

 took him the back way home. 



Funnily enough, Sam Rogers, who was really 

 looking after ' Hermit,' never saw what had taken 

 place. The accident happened after we had passed 

 where he stood ; but ' Vespasian," who was galloping 

 behind, broke a blood-vessel just opposite to him, and 

 Sam called the boy who was riding everything he 

 could — and he could say something — for not pulling 

 the horse up, and went in with him to Barrow's, the 

 veterinary surgeon's, not knowing what had happened 

 to ' Hermit.' I afterwards took a letter from Captain 

 Machell to Mr. Chaplin, who was in London unwell 

 at the time. On my way to town, I saw Captain 

 Hawkesley, who, I found out, knew all about the 

 mishap, although we thought it was a secret. As soon 

 as I arrived in London, I went straiofht to Mr. 

 Chaplin's house. He read the letter, saying that it was 

 a bad job, and thought the horse ought to be scratched 

 at once. I immediately said : " No ; I shouldn't 

 scratch him, as there can be no good in doing that." 

 Thus the matter went on. In the meantime. Captain 

 Hawkesley sent to me to ask if I would ride ' The 

 Rake,' who was then the first favourite for the 

 Derby. I told him I was retained by Mr, Chaplin, 



