124 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



Blacker on Snowstorm, Mr. Wm. Kennedy on his 

 chestnut, Baron de Robeck, Major Dent, Mr. E. Mans- 

 field, Freeman, and the first whip. 



My poor nag is completely " done," and I merely 

 catch a glimpse of those in the distance — I wonder 

 will I ever get him over this narrow bank ? "Come 

 up, go on ! —bump-bump-bum ! — Oh, by Jove ! we're 

 down — a "cropper!" I .have him by the bridle, 

 though — no, he's gone — fire in my eyes too — 'twill 

 be a case of concussion. "Get up, get up," says a 

 voice beside me, and a hand is on my shoulder. " All 



right, all right — I'm not hurt — catch the d d brute,, 



catch him." " Tickets, please — show your ticket, sir. 

 Athenry, Athenry, Athenry !" shouts a sleepy porter. 

 I push back my travelling-cap, rub my eyes. What 

 the deuce is this ? Oh ! I thought I was riding a run, 

 and here I am at one o'clock in the morning at 

 Athenry. The guard has been shaking me for the 

 last five minutes, holding his lamp within a couple of 

 inches of my face (this accounts for the lire in my 

 eyes). "All right, guard; I've been dreaming." 

 " So I thought, sir, for you pulled at the chain of my 

 whistle till you smashed it." "No matter; get out 

 my traps; and here's half-a-crown to wet your 

 whistle." 



" I have the dog-cart outside, sir, and will have 

 you at master's in forty minutes." "All right, John; 

 goon," In forty minutes afterwards I have an old 

 friend (who has invited me down to spend a few days 

 with him, and has promised to give me a mount with 

 the Gal way Hounds, yclept the " Blazers") by the hand, 

 and soon afterwards am talking of the likelihood of a 

 good run on the morrow, and enjoying his hospitality. 



