In the Off-Seas on 279 



him as with smooth, powerful action, and 

 with his hocks well under him, he tops the 

 hurdles, just brushing the gorse at the top 

 with his hind legs, then jumps the gate with- 

 out the semblance of hesitancy, and gallops 

 down to the so-called brook. As he nears it 

 his ears go a point more forward, and unless 

 your eyes deceive you he hangs fire momen- 

 tarily. A sharp job of Tom's spur converts 

 doubt — if there was a doubt — into resolution, 

 and again the good chestnut acquits himself 

 well. Tom then pulls up, and, patting the 

 arched neck, brings his gallant steed up to 

 where you await him — not forgetting to stand 

 him with his legs well stretched out, in what 

 the ladies call " a becoming attitude." 



"Now, sir, p'raps you'd just like to lay a 

 leg over him yourself. I know you're a 

 gentleman " (charming little emphasis on the 

 "you" again) "that can put 'em over a 

 country, and that being so, why, you natu- 

 rally like to see what they're made of for 

 yourself." This man is really charming. 

 Sees at a glance, you know, whether a fellow's 



