THE DEALER. 1 1 3 



When the Major did get away, too, there was no 

 mistake about his style of going. His young horses 

 became possessed of a discretion beyond their years. 

 They neither refused their fences nor rushed them, but 

 slipped over, bringing their hind-legs well under them, 

 and, lighting on those agile and muscular limbs, were 

 well away on the other side, w^hile the rushers, who had 

 jumped at double the pace, were pulling themselves to- 

 gether, and getting into their stride again — if they found 

 their way safely over, as was not invariably the case. 



My introduction to the Major was brought about 

 accidentally. A gate through which I was passing 

 swung back more rapidly than I expected, and missing 

 the push with my hunting-crop, that should have 

 warded off a collision, the lock caught my stirrup and 

 dragged it off. An attempt to fish it up without leaving 

 the saddle was unsuccessful, and I did not want to dis- 

 mount if it could be avoided, as that necessarily in- 

 volved mounting again, which is not a very easy cere- 

 mony to perform when your horse is restive and the 

 plough deep. 



At this juncture, therefore, I was much gratified to 

 find that the Major had courteously slid from his saddle, 

 and with a most polite " Pray allow me, sir," handed 

 me up the leather and iron. His legs were longer than 

 mine, and his horse both quieter and lower, so that he 

 was again in his seat before I could utter a fitting ex- 

 pression of thanks and of shame to have given him so 

 much trouble ; to which civil speeches he made suitable 



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