36 SPORTING REMINISCENCES 



'* Three cheers for Delmege. Set the numbers 

 up. His mare is to win." 



The tension was over, the situation saved. 



The crowd hurried off good-humouredly. The 

 mare, fortunately, won easily, and a battered 

 stranger hurried back to England holding quite 

 new views as to Ireland. Amongst them that 

 scientific boxing in an Irish crowd was certainly 

 not a success. 



Captain Delmege is still hunting regularly with 

 sons, and a daughter with him now. He had for 

 years a big white horse, and one more story to 

 show the country people insist on their fixed 

 opinions. I was completely left behind about four 

 years ago in a hunt from Cahemarry, and took up 

 a position on a hill to watch them come back to 

 me. They ran a ring. Very few people had got 

 away, and one man on a white horse was alone 

 with hounds. 



" That is Delmege," said a farmer to me. 

 " Success to him." 



Now I knew that J. O'G, was not out, and it 

 was Major Tremayne on his flea-bitten grey, and 

 I said so. 



" It is Delmege," was the reply. " Hasn't he 

 a white horse, and isn't he always out away in 

 front. I tell ye it is Delmege." 



I said no more. 



I have spoken of point-to-points, and the very 

 first point-to-point in County Limerick was got 



