"Old Buck," and Others 



The result was so satisfactory that Mr Bletsoe 

 continued to put all his mares to " Old Buck," 

 and at the end of three years was particularly 

 struck with the young stock. In the meantime 

 Colonel Hill wished to make " Old Buck " draw 

 his dog-cart, which that gallant steed promptly 

 kicked to pieces. He was then degraded into 

 the plough team, but he would not have any- 

 thing to do with such unpicturesque work ; 

 he rebelled emphatically, and was turned into 

 a field with some farm horses — probably to get 

 used to them. He quickly set about one of his 

 companions, and killed it by tearing its throat 

 out. Alarums and excursions followed as a 

 matter of course ; the news went round that 

 there was a rare fire-eater in the parish. Hear- 

 ing that " Old Buck " was then for sale, and 

 undaunted by his terrible reputation, Mr 

 Bletsoe sent a message to Colonel Hill, stating 

 that he should like to buy him. But it was 

 believed that he had become really dangerous ; 

 and, accordingly, Colonel Hill sent him away 

 out of the district, informing his would - be 

 purchaser that he would not hear any more of 

 this fierce stallion. 



But the Fates decreed otherwise, and truly we 

 never know our luck in this sporting world. A 



219 



