120 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIELD. 



I was not inclined to deal for animals which had been 

 picked up cheaply for 600 guineas, or even ^200. Con- 

 sidering the expense of carriage from Ireland, keep, &c., 

 and a reasonable profit for the dealer, which one could 

 not fairly refuse, the price would mount up speedil}^ to 

 considerable dimensions. 



"That is a hack my daughter rides,"' he went on, as 

 we passed to the next stall, which contained a splendid 

 little bay mare, "and this is Gloucester; he runs in the 

 Grand Military next week, and will not be far from 

 winning, I imagine ; " and he pointed to the occupant of 

 a capacious loose box, a powerful black horse which put 

 back his ears and swished his tail as the door of his 

 residence was opened. " The iron-grey by the door is 

 a young one I rode last season, half-brother to the one 

 I was on last Tuesday; capital hunter, rising six." 



" Does he jump ? " I ask. 



" And gallop," he answered. *' Do you care to take 

 him round the training ground ? I can have it un- 

 chained in a moment." 



"Just over the hurdles will do," I reply, not quite 

 caring about the unknown obstacles of what no doubt 

 seemed a moderate course to Scratton, but might have 

 had a different appearance to a stranger on a young 

 horse. A neatly-fitting saddle was on the grey's back 

 in a moment, and over the hurdles he certainly bounded 

 as if he liked nothing better. 



Perhaps, as a short time afterwards we discussed 

 another glass of the sherry, Scratton painted the grey's 



