CHAP, V. JOHN METCALF, ROAD MAKER. 211 



k ' Yes, Sir," said he, " I lost my sight when six years 

 old." "Had I known that, I would not have ventured 

 with you 011 that road from York for a hundred pounds." 

 " And I, Sir," said Metcalf, " would not have lost my 

 w;i\ for a thousand." 



Metcalf now thrived and saved money, and he bought 

 and rode a horse of his own ! He had a great affection 

 for the animal, and when he called, it would immediately 

 answer him by neighing. The most surprising thing is 

 that he was a good huntsman ; and to follow the hounds 

 was one of his greatest pleasures. He was as bold a 

 rider as ever took the field. He trusted much, no doubt, 

 to the sagacity of his horse ; but he himself was appa- 

 rently regardless of danger. The hunting adventures 

 which are related of him, considering his blindness, seem 

 altogether marvellous. He would also run his horse for 

 the petty prizes or plates given at the feasts in the neigh- 

 bourhood, and he attended the races at York and other 

 places, where he made bets with considerable skill, 

 keeping well in his memory the winning and losing 

 horses. After the races, he would return to Knares- 

 borough late at night, guiding others who but for him 

 could never have made out the way. 



On one occasion he rode his horse in a match in 

 Knaresborough Forest. The ground was marked out 

 by posts, including a circle of a mile, and the race was 

 three times round. Great odds were laid against the 

 blind man, because of his supposed inability to keep the 

 course. But his ingenuity was never at fault. He pro- 

 cured a number of dinner-bells from the Harrogate inns 

 and set men to ring them at the several posts. Their 

 sound was enough to direct him during the race, and the 

 blind man came in the winner ! After this race was 

 over, a gentleman who owned a notorious runaway horse 

 came up and offered to lay a bet with Metcalf that he 

 could not gallop the horse fifty yards and stop it within 

 two hundred. Metcalf accepted the bet, with the con- 



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