6 SPORTING REMINISCENCES 



He had a very fine thoroughbred called Sarsefield, 

 which was given to him and which caused, when 

 I was aged seven, a real scare about a horse- 

 demented little girl. 



Sarsefield was bred, so far as I can remember, by 

 Colonel Jesse Lloyd of Ballyleck, and ran in the 

 Derby, but, upset by the crossing, only finished 

 fifth. He was supposed to have had a good chance. 



He then turned savage and ate a man or two, 

 one certainly, and was given to my father to see 

 what he could do with him. 



He was put out on grass on the lawn. All the 

 men doubtless warned but the small child for- 

 gotten. I saw a horse loose. How I made over- 

 tures I don't know. My favourite playground 

 was the plantation bordering the lawn. There was 

 a hollow in a tree there which I was sure held a 

 fairy, and I used to build little houses there and 

 dwell alone. I was years younger than the others, 

 who were mysterious big people to me. 



Probably I marched straight out to the savage. 

 I don't know. I can remember that we became 

 instant friends. Probably he did not think me 

 worth eating, and a few days after he came I know 

 I was out petting him when there came a heavy 

 shower, so I calmly sat there to shelter under his 

 chest with an arm round each fore leg and Sarse- 

 field looking down benignly. 



It was just then that my poor mother came along 

 the avenue and saw me. The wild shrieks which 



