CONCLUSIONS NOT CONCLUSIVE. 95 



" No^ lie did not," replied my companion ; 

 " but what do you mean by ^ pulling in ? ^ " 



" Oh," said 1, " it is only a little droll ma- 

 noeuvre sometimes resorted to in a race, or steeple- 

 chase. I added the 'in:' pulled is quite enough 

 among the initiated. The ' in/ as we used to say 

 at school, is 'understood.^ However," continued 

 I, " we shall see the nags out to-morrow ; it is 

 possible I may have formed a hasty judgment of 

 their qualifications." 



" Now," said my friend, " how do you like the 

 next, the bay mare ; she is also a steeple-chaser^ 

 and has won carrying eleven stone, small as she 

 is ; so as I only ride twelve, if she can carry 

 eleven in a steeple-chase, surely she can carry a 

 stone more merely hunting." 



"You jump at conclusions, my dear fellow," 

 said I, " as quickly as I am ready to believe the 

 little mare does her fences. I really think her a 

 very wiry good-looking little animal, and quite 

 give her credit for powers that her mere size does 

 not indicate ; but I allow I should not have 

 bought her for a hunter. Fifteen hands, if you 

 get a wonder, will go in some countries as well, 

 nay better, than sixteen ; but it should be a par- 

 ticular country, and the fences should not be very 

 formidable. But you must permit me to tell you 

 I consider yoa in error in supposing, because a 

 horse can carry a given weight in a steeple-chase^ 



