A few Notable Mounts 



greatest jockey of his day, beat me and " Stone- 

 fall " with some degree of ease ; we were third, 

 and a little later, at Brighton, they administered 

 the same dose to us again. We were third once 

 more. I began to be heartily tired of Fred 

 Archer and " Pearl Diver " ; they showed us 

 no mercy at any part of the contest. 



So far as that Brighton sprint is concerned, I 

 recollect that we were at the post for three- 

 quarters of an hour in sleet and rain, when 

 Archer was as cool and nonchalant through- 

 out as if the elements were conspiring to place 

 him at the head of the Government. He did 

 not object to being drenched to the skin if there 

 were an adequate solatium at the other end. He 

 took up an outside position, wanting no better ; 

 immediately the flag was dropped he dashed in 

 front, right across us, as it were, and soon had 

 us safely "boxed." What a marvellous genius 

 he was, to be sure, in regard to all points of the 

 game! "Pearl Diver" was very quick out of 

 the slips, and had fine speed. Indeed, one of 

 those wits in the paddock — see previous canto, 

 introducing the Irish stew — said to me, after 

 my defeat on " Stonefall " as recorded : " Well, 

 you have been taking something on. I wonder 

 you don't pick out a few more superb champions 



65 E 



