164 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



got about on that occasion that Ormonde had recognised 

 his old trainer, but having been present at the meeting, 

 such as it was, I must honestly declare that there was 

 no sign of such recognition. The horse landed in good 

 shape and passed some months that spring and summer 

 with nine mares at Molecomb, but virtue had gone out 

 of him, and never in all the years after he reached 

 California, later on, did it return, though an occasional 

 foal was registered to his credit. 



The Clyde in 1893 was the latest thing in Royal 

 Mail luxury, and when I went out on her twelve years 

 later there was still nothing better. She was a very 

 "happy" ship too, and the late Captain Tindal, who 

 commanded her, was one of the best. I shall always 

 remember, however, that she rolled at an angle of 

 forty-five degrees between Vigo and Lisbon ; that a 

 stout old lady was shot by one such roll from her 

 revolving seat in the saloon a distance of about five 

 yards ; that my big cabin trunk, being then unopened, 

 broke loose from under the bunk where I was in a 

 three-berth cabin which I had to myself, and that as 

 I, like a fool, had turned in at the side of the cabin 

 remote from the electric switch I could not get to 

 it in the darkness, with the trunk charging about like 

 a battering-ram. 



Meanwhile a Portuguese in the next cabin was being 

 vociferously sea-sick, and alternately praying to all his 

 gods, until some other passenger, of rougher cast, came 

 along and roundly cursed him, after rapping violently 

 at his cabin door. 



There was really not the least cause for alarm 

 unless indeed the engines had given out for the 

 Clyde was a splendid sea-boat, with a good deep keel 



