42 TALES OF PINK AND SILK. 



Summer came and went, and the autumn tints spoke of 

 the approaching hunting season. Mr. Waller had done a lot 

 of cub-hunting on his regular hunters, and he thought a little 

 education over fences might not be amiss for the black horse, 

 in case any of the stud gave out ; so Sultan was taken to see 

 hounds once or twice, and acquitted himself well ; however, 

 as he was as quiet as anything on the place, he was still placed 

 at the shepherd's disposal. We all know, no matter what our 

 station in life, what it is to yearn for a chance to distinguish 

 ourselves. If only we were given the chance, we think, then 

 people would see of what stuff we are made; but the chance 

 does not come, and our brilliant talents lie dormant for want 

 ot an opportunity. These thoughts, and there is no doubt a 

 horse does think, must have troubled Sultan. Why was he 

 condemned to carry 14 stones of bucolic humanity and a bag 

 of cake to a lot of silly sheep, instead of leading the field in a 

 fast forty minutes with the Brockleness hounds ? One can 

 imagine how his spirit chafed within him. If only the chance 

 would come ! Jump, of course he could jump ; he fairly loved 

 it; and as for galloping, well, perhaps he was not very fit, but 

 he had been doing a lot of slow work during the summer, and 

 with a little more hard corn, a little less chop and crushed 

 oats, and an occasional " pipe-opener," he would soon be as 

 good as the best of them. 



At last the opportunity arrived. Mr. Waller wished to 

 go to the meet one November day, for various reasons ; he 

 wanted to see the Master on a matter of some importance, 

 also one or two farmers on matters of business, and he — 

 well, he should just like to have a few words with Miss 

 Bellermy. But Grey Friar, whose turn it was, had gone a 

 bit feeling the day before ; Tom King was out yesterday, 

 Kathleen had had a gruelling day the last time she was out, 

 and the three-year-old colt had got a sore back. 



"Tell Parker I shall want the black horse to-morrow 



