272 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



chain through, the ring of her harness, and now and then 

 hooking it ; but nine times in ten it was not hooked until 

 she had gone a mile or so, when, by easing the pace, the 

 guard was enabled to do it." 



Frank Raby. "And did she never get back on the 

 splinter-bar, and kick ? ' 



Sir John. " Oh no ; she was not one of that sort. All 

 she wanted was to get away with the coach from the scene 

 of her dislike, and the faster the better, for she was a 

 capital bit of stuff. Then again she was in the hands of 

 a first-rate coachman. In the hands of a spoon, she would 

 have been dangerous." 



Frank Raby. " Is he still at work ; I should like to see 

 him, if he is." 



Sir John. " He is not ; he is dying from the effects of 

 hot rum-and-water." 



Jack Webber. " More's the pity ; but why was not that 

 mare put before the bars, instead of at wheel ? " 



Sir John. " She would not have that place, or it would 

 have been the fittest for her, no doubt. I thought she did 

 the mail harm with the public, and I told the proprietors 

 I thought so ; but she was too good to be drafted." 



Jack Webber. " Well, Eaby, as far as I can see of them, 

 I think you have made no bad selection ; but further 

 cannot be said till we see them in harness, which I suppose 

 we shall to-morrow. In the meantime let us look at your 

 harness-room." 



Sir John. " Well done, Frank ; all appears to be right 

 here. Two sets of road - harness for the drag ; one for 

 your chariot (for church and dinner- work, I presume) ; 

 and one set for the break. Whose work is it, for it 

 appears first-rate ? " 



Frank Raby. " One set of road-harness and the pair- 

 horse are from Whippy ; the other set of the former from 

 Laurie the two best harness-makers in London, I believe 

 and that for the break was made in the village. I like 

 to lay out money near at home, when I can ; but there is 

 no harness fit to be looked at, of country' make." 



Jack Webber. " You are quite right, Raby, and you have 

 gone to a good market. And your whips 1 " 



Frank Raby. " From Crowther, of course. They cost a 

 guinea each ; devilish dear, to be sure ; but they are so 

 nicely turned out. They are the only crops I could ever 

 find to stand wet weather without losing shape ; and when 



