2 8o In Scarlet and Silk 



a horseman or not. Couldn't wrangle with a 

 chap like this about a beastly tenner or so. 



Once on top of Rufus, any doubt which you 

 mio-ht hitherto have felt as to his beino; a 

 hunter very quickly disappears ; and as he 

 hoists you over the gate you feel the immense 

 hind leverage, and murmur delightedly to 

 yourself, " This horse ought to lift one smack 

 over a town." 



Just one turn over the water, you think, 

 as you set him going again, and after that I 

 must really buy — here, hi, halloa ! what the 

 deuce is this ? Rufus has most distinctly 

 ^' chucked it " the second time of asking, at 

 the brook, and then you remember the mo- 

 mentary hesitation and Tom's spur when he 

 went over before. But this won't do at any 

 price. Back you go, give him a fair run, 

 and this time, despite a slight inclination to 

 " go in the breeching," and a somewhat 

 awkward throwing up of the head in the air, 

 you are over the '' puddle," and safely on the 

 far side. Your keenness for the horse has 

 been a little blunted, and you feel that he 



