272 Did you ever Drive a Jibber down to a Fight ? 



beaten man. The Australian was thus unexpectedly declared the 

 winner ; your humble servant was a richer man by 6o/., and I never 

 won any money with so much pleasure in my life. There was a 

 second fight, in which, however, very few appeared to be interested, 

 and most of us prepared to leave the ring as soon as the first affair 

 was over. 



The Capten was never a very good loser at any time, but on this 

 occasion he lost with worse grace than usual. I generally was an 

 easy-tempered fellow, and as I had won his money, I stood his 

 growling for some time pretty well. But at length, when he bade 

 me in a tone of command, go back to the inn at once and fetch the 

 dog-cart to him, while he stayed to see the second fight, I told 

 him plainly I was going back by another road, and unless he chose 

 to walk back to the inn with me, he might get home as best he 

 could. A young swell who was standing close by, however, directly 

 offered him a seat back to Cambridge on his drag, which he will- 

 ingly accepted ; and politely informing me that I could now drive 

 to the devil if I chose, he turned his back on me, and walked away 

 in company with his new friend. I soon found Spring and got the 

 bets, and then started on foot for the inn where the dog-cart was 

 standing. Where they took the Australian to I don't knowj but 

 he did not go back to the inn which he had left in the morning -, 

 and I saw him no more. 



The Capten had already paid pretty well for the shabby trick he 

 had served me in the morning, but I had not done with him yet. 

 I had made up my mind not to bring his dog-cart home for him, 

 so when I got back to the inn I borrowed a saddle and bridle of 

 the ostler (the landlord had not got home I suppose he was stop- 

 ping to see the second fight), and, bidding him take care of the 

 dog-cart till a man came from Cambridge with the saddle and 

 bridle, on a horse to fetch it, I left the inn to return on horseback. 

 I may add that one of the springs of the dog-cart was sprung, and 

 a goodish deal of paint, as well as the Capten's crest, was 

 scratched off the hind panel. Whatever faults the horse might pos- 

 sess in harness, he was certainly, to use the ostler's words, " an 



