THE COMING OF NANCY 133 



Nancy was installed in the fifth place in the stable, 

 a single stall in the warmest corner, which the great 

 Boaster and my brother had fitted up with care and 

 attention to detail in the way of a deep manger and 

 convenient oat box. 



" I thought being newcomers you had probably 

 omitted to put up any oat sheaves," exclaimed Mr. 

 Edwardes, " and as Nancy is used to them I brought 

 along a few. When she knows she is at home she 

 will get round and find her own feed, but she is 

 certain to feel a bit strange at first. This stable isn't 

 very warm, is it ? Have you a blanket ? " 



I flew for a set of travelling garments which had 

 belonged to a dear dead four-footed friend of whom 

 much too much had been expected in the racing 

 world. Nancy submitted to her thick and comfort- 

 able blue and yellow coat as though she had never 

 seen anything inferior, although the ragged remains 

 of the four sets I had purchased at Fort Qu'Appelle 

 in the preceding November were hanging like grey 

 banners of battle from the rafters. However, they 

 were the only sample of horse-clothing which I 

 bought or used in Canada. Circulation by exercise, 

 and also by plenty of the best of hay and oats, 

 threshed and in the sheaf, became my method of 

 fighting the climate ; and even my brother allows 

 that it is miles ahead of external wrappings. 



Mr. Edwardes remained with us overnight. The 

 experience he had put in through the many years 

 he had spent in the country made him a most 

 interesting companion, but I fear he found our 

 many-windowed cottage unmercifully cold. He 

 bade his faithful comrade good-bye with a tight- 

 gripped lip. I offered there and then to let him 



