2 5 o In Scarlet and Silk 



funny. Every time lie jumped a stile, or 

 post and rails, his feet seemed to hit the 

 timber all round with an unholy rattling, 

 but I never knew him make the least mistake. 

 He could fly or creep equally well, but — 

 there is always a " but " — poor old Billy was 

 as slow as a top. His best pace was about 

 as fast as a man could kick his hat. 



Later in life, when Billy had passed into 

 the hands of a man who hunted solely for the 

 sake of showing off his inimitable " get-up " at 

 covert-side, and " gassing " about his exploits 

 to his lady friends afterwards, I met him in 

 the field, " owner up." Hounds had just got 

 away, and over a terrific obstacle, nearly 

 two feet high, his gallant master had led 

 on the old grey. We ran fast down a lightly 

 ploughed field, through a gateway, into a 

 small coppice beyond. At the far side of 

 this ran a brook : it was not more than 

 ten or twelve feet wide, and both take-off 

 and landing were equally sound. Imme- 

 diately Billy's pilot saw it, however, he was 

 for pulling up. He little knew William's 



