122 HUMANE HORSE-TRAINING 



This is called " out to catch a mug," and is generally 

 done by horsey-looking gentlemen who are here to-day 

 and gone to-morrow. 



There are usually three partners. The assumed 

 Cuthbert buys some horses with showy action, fresh legs 

 and broken wind. Gerald hires or buys a carriage for 

 a few shillings, also some harness. Bertie hires a stable, 

 generally in a small mews in the West End, and he ad- 

 vertises the horses in all the leading papers. Cuthbert 

 engages fashionable apartments and assumes the name 

 of Major Cuthbert Lawson, D.S.O. Bertie acts as the 

 groom. The bait is set and they await the arrival of 

 Billy Muggins. Muggins rolls up at the mews. Bertie 

 touches his cap very politely and shows Muggins 

 the horses. Muggins, presuming he is doing something 

 smart by calling at the mews unexpectedly, slips half-a- 

 crown in Bertie's hand, thinking some news about the 

 horses is forthcoming. 



" What sort of gees are they, old fellow ? Are they 

 quiet ? Do you know anything wrong with them ? If 

 you tell me, and I buy them, you shall have a box of 

 Corona cigars, my good man." 



" No ... I don't know anything wrong, sir, but if 

 I tell you, promise not to say a word." 



Billy Muggins thinks he is now in for some good 



