TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS 55 



retired back on the "William," and stood stiffly on his 

 dignity ; but again lapsing into the familiar " Billy," would 

 soften the crusty old jockey by saying he should always 

 ride for him, not against him, whereupon Billy, with a sly, 

 triumphant chuckle, would charge his pipe afresh and 

 replenish his beaker. 



Bill was very fond of using long words, or, rather, long 

 phrases, of the meaning of which he had not the least con- 

 ception, having learned them like a parrot ; and these 

 phrases, coupled with his singular accent, based upon the 

 high-pitched Suffolk crossed by the vowels of the East 

 Riding, had a most comical effect. Though a man of no 

 education he was ambitious, as such men are, that his son 

 should have " learning," and one day, over a glass of grog, 

 requested a sporting friend who was a bit of a school- 

 master to "tout " young Bill in Latin. 



" Don't make too strong a running of it," he said, " and 

 take all out of him first trial. Remember, he's only a 

 young 'un ; but give him a fair taste. Give him a mile 

 and a half at four stone or fifty pounds — that's about your 

 cut. And now, William," addressing his son, " try to hang 

 on to the old 'un here without attempting to pass 'im, 

 and if you can live with him till you see White Willy" 

 — so he always termed the distance post — " I think as 

 your father, a man without the advantages of a classical 

 education, though up to a dodge or two, may have reason 

 to be sweet upon your performance, and that in a year or 

 two you'll be able to beat the schoolmaster at even 

 weights." 



Bill once suspected that his son, when a mere boy, had 

 been led into drinking spirits by one of his grooms named 

 Bob Britton, and, to be quite certain of the fact, told him 

 to come and kiss his dad before he went to bed. The " old 

 un " instantly " winded the lush," as he expressed it, and 

 having dismissed the boy with a kind but droll homily, he 

 armed himself with a good stout whip and went off to the 

 stables in search of Bob, the tempter. He did not waste 

 much time in talking, but towelled the unfortunate youth 

 for a good ten minutes until he hallooed like a pack of 

 hounds in full cry. " I never did lay into anything with 



