SOME NOTABLE HORSE-BREAKERS 189 



where else, as it startled them more. Whips and spurs are 

 bad things : they do more harm than good. There are as 

 many touches on a horse's mouth as there are notes on a 

 pianoforte ; but it's no use if you haven't the head to use 

 them at the right time, and don't know how to apply them." 



In consequence of a young lady having eloped from his 

 riding-school with one of those heiress-hunters with whom 

 Bath used to abound, Seffart made it a rule to receive 

 gentlemen from ten to twelve, ladies from twelve to two. 



Among the Irish adventurers at Bath on the look-out 

 for impressionable heiresses was a certain Captain 

 O'Flanagan, who followed with great assiduity the 

 daughter of a rich soap-boiler who was taking lessons of 

 Seffart. As the above-mentioned elopement had already 

 got Seffart into hot water, he now kept a sharp look-out 

 and abided strictly by his rule of separating the sexes 

 during exercise hours. One day Captain O'Flanagan, 

 who had purchased a ticket for the season, strolled in at a 

 quarter to twelve. 



" You can only ride fifteen minutes, sir," said Seffart. 



" All right," was his reply. 



Doubting his sincerity, however, Seffart put him upon a 

 tricky horse called Fortunatus. As the clock struck 

 twelve the trainer said, " Time's up, Captain." 



" I shall not go. I pay for two hours, and two hours I 

 shall have," was the cool reply. 



" But you agreed to go at twelve." 



"Then I've changed my mind." 



"But I haven't," said Seffart quietly. "Now am I to 

 treat you as a gentleman or a blackguard ? " 



" What do you mean, you scoundrel ? " roared the 

 Milesian, 



"The ladies are waiting," pursued the trainer; "will 

 you go ? " 



" I'll see you d d first," was the response. 



Seffart said no more to the Captain, but called, " Hi ! 

 Fortunatus ; up lad," and made a sign with his whip. In 

 an instant Fortunatus reared bolt upright, and the next 

 moment was on all fours again and striking out with his 

 hind legs. The most perfect equitation could not stand 



