270 THE HUNTING FIELD 



" What's all this about ? " asked Shabbyhounde, following 

 the disconcerted Strutt into the statJle. 



"Vicious!" retorted Shabbyhounde, in reply to Strutt's 

 asseveration — " not half so vicious as the man that put those 

 on," continued he. 



Strutt, for once, was taken aback. 



The Captain proceeded to liberate the animal, whose 

 trembling, frightened manner showed he had been abused. 

 All abused horses show this, if masters would but take the 

 trouble to observe them. Nevertheless, there are more savage 

 servants in stables than nine-tenths of the world imagine. 



It would be impertinent in us to trouble the sagacious 

 reader with the dcnoneiiicnt of this deal in detail. The most 

 rusty-brained, wooden-headed cock among them, must an- 

 ticipate that the Captain was too many for Strutt. The fact 

 of the horse having been taken out, coupled with Strutt's 

 assertion of his viciousness, and the Captain's wily insinuation 

 by letter, all tended to a hasty dismissal, which was not even 

 softened by the stale trick of being allowed to give up the 

 place himself on seeing he was going to lose it. Strutt was 

 chassacd. 



Having had occasion, however, to exhibit the Captain in 

 not the most enviable colours, to avoid the imputation of 

 painting human nature " too severely true," we will add 

 something that may be placed to his credit. Finding Mr. 

 Milksop was not sufficiently strong in the fork to compete 

 with the vigorous efforts of Lambkin, and knowing that his 

 recent success over Strutt would only add fresh fuel to the 

 fire of his exertions, the Captain kindly gave Mr. Milksop 

 the pick of his stud in exchange, and Milksop got a very fine 

 £2,0 piece of antiquit}' that was worth " any mone\-," if he 

 only stood sound. Shabbyhounde's disinterested benevolence 

 carried him still further. He accommodated Mr, Milksop with 

 Job Tod, though helpers" wages had ri:: from twelve to fourteen 



