16 THE LIFE OF A RACEHORSE. 



speak — in tlie same clierries, from sire and dam to son and 

 daughter, from generation to generation. This lias made me 

 sometimes think, Sir Digby," and our head groom drew in a 

 long breath which whistled between his teeth, before completing 

 the sentence, — "this makes me sometimes think, Sir Digby, 

 there may be more m breedin' than we know of." 



" That equally applies to most, if not to all things, Robert," 

 replied Sir Digby, in a soft, reflective voice. 



" It may, for aught I can tell," resumed our head gi-oom ; 

 " but all I know about is osses ; and as my wenerable old steel 

 file of a guv'nor — there was no soft metal in him, Sir Digby — 

 used for to say, speak abotit nothin' yer do'nt understand. If 

 it's pigs, let's have pigs ; if cabbages, give us cabbages ; if 

 poultry, stick to yer ducks and chickens ; but don't mix up 

 toolips and 'otus grapes with 'em at the same time. That's what 

 he said, Sir Digby, and his words lie here," continued Eobert, 

 tapping the third button of liis linen jacket, " like pebbles in 

 a brook." 



" You think the colt inherits the great fault of his dam ?" 

 said my owner, interrogatively. 



Bobert jerked the badger-pied cap over one eye, stretched a 

 hand and arm into the fathomless depths of a pocket, and, 

 widening the distance of his square-toed shoes by a full inch 

 laconically replied, " / do." 



" That one fault cost me thirty thousand pounds." 



*' It's a great deal o' money. Sir Digby." 



*' More than I mean to risk again." 



" Nothing venture, nothing win," returned our head groom 

 glancing askance at Sir Digby. 



" I'm in great doubt whether I will even put the colt iu 

 training," observed the baronet, thoughtfully. 



Kobert started, as if the bullet had hit him. 



"Not put him into trainin'. Sir Digby !" exclaimed he, with 

 his eyes glistening like an angry ferret's. 



"So I said," coolly rej^lied my owner, as he drewhimseb" up 

 and folded his arms across his breast. " So I mean." 



