" I hope to be out long enough before that." 

 "Very well," said Bolo, "don't expect my com- 

 pany if you can't wait until then. I can't come any 

 earlier." 



A great many amusing stories are told of one of 

 the best-hearted but most eccentric characters pos- 

 sible, who was known on the turf as " Billy 

 Nicholl." J cannot vouch for the truth of all of 

 them, but will try to tell some as they were related 

 to me. The following I was a witness of, except 

 the betting transactions, which were told to me after- 

 wards. It happened in the year 1868, and was in 

 connection with the horse ' Belladrum,' belonging to 

 Mr. Merry. He was a real good two-year-old, and 

 won nearly all his engagements that year, including 

 the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom and the New Stakes 

 at Ascot, leaving off a great favourite for the Derby. 

 During the winter months it was discovered by Mr. 

 Waugh (who trained the horse at Russley at the time) 

 that * Belladrum ' had turned roarer. This he com- 

 municated to Mr. Merry, who directly sent off to a 

 gentleman telling him to hedge his Derby money for 

 him. The said gentleman thought he might as well 

 get a couple of friends to help him do the commis- 

 sion, which they did, commencing at Liverpool Spring 

 Meeting. It was in connection with this a rather 



