246 In Scarlet and Silk 



no horse is naturally bad-tempered ; but the 

 exception only goes, we know, to prove the 

 rule. I bought a three-year-old out of a 

 racing stable : she was as quiet in and out of 

 the stable as could be wished ; but soon she 

 developed the most ferocious temper in the 

 stable, though perfectly quiet, still, when out 

 of it. Her final performance was half killing 

 me one Sunday morning in her box. After 

 that we parted company. Now, no one could 

 have teased her, as she was looked after by 

 an even-tempered man who had been with me 

 for many years ; and during the twelve months 

 I had her no one ever got on her back but 

 myself. The only way I can account for the 

 change in her is the fact that her sire, Kosi- 

 crucian, was a great savage, and I suppose the 

 family failing came out with increasing age. 



"Squire" Drake of Shardeloes owned a 

 wonderful horse in Quits, who took a number 

 of Hunters' races on the flat, but could never be 

 induced to jump at all. Time after time great 

 efforts were made to fit him for taking part in 

 steeplechase work, but no power on earth could 



