THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 115 



popping over hurdles, etc., in a paddock, when I know there 

 are no hounds about, and I can't be called on for one of those 

 distressing days' hunting, which knock the stuffing out of one 

 for a whole week afterwards. I think it's my willingness at 

 that game which catches the flats ; they buy me, fondly 

 imagining that I'm going to hunt. Not me ! " and he negli- 

 gently rested the near hind leg, vice the off one, which, 

 throughout the foregoing conversation, had been lazily kept 

 in repose. 



"You're pretty 'cute, I see, my young friend," returned the 

 veteran in admiring tones, " but from a sporting point of 

 view, you're no horse." 



" From my own point of view, my excellent heirloom, I'm 

 no ass ! " was the retort; and then the cobby little black scraped 

 away some of the straw beneath his forelegs preparatory to 

 indulging in a comfortable nap. 



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