56 In Scarlet and Silk 



railway station and put your horse in his 

 box ; attend to his wants first. He should 

 always be put into some stable, if possible, 

 wisped over, and given either a pail of oat- 

 meal gruel, or a light feed, preceded by a 

 little chilled water. If oatmeal is not to be 

 had, a double handful of common flour will 

 serve the purpose. Then, being warm and 

 comfortable, he will not be so likely to take 

 harm on the return journey as he would when 

 boxed home straight away. 



As to the system of hiring hunters, I think 

 if a man is still young, blessed with good 

 nerves, and can "take a toss" with equa- 

 nimity, that he might do far worse than 

 adopt this plan. I have very pleasant 

 memories of the "jobbed" hunter, and I 

 don't know that the average "hireling" has 

 put me down oftener than my own horses 

 have done. I am quite aware, however, that 

 this is not an universal experience. Out of 

 many hired ones I have ridden, and over all 

 sorts of countries, I can only remember get- 

 ting one serious fall, and badly injuring one 



