OXLV THE MARE. zic) 



cheese-plate, as would have been my fate had I been 

 unable to reduce myself. Breakfast, presided over by 

 Nellie, compensated for all matutinal discomforts ; and 

 then she came round to the stables to give her equine 

 prototype an encouraging pat and a few words of advice 

 and endearment which I verily believe the gallant little 

 mare understood, for it rubbed its nose against her 

 shoulder as though it would say, "Just you leave it in 

 my hands — or rather, to my feet — and I'll make it all 

 right! " Then we started for our gallop, Bertie riding 

 a steady old iron-grey hunter. 



The fourth of December arrived, and the mare's con- 

 dition was splendid. " As fit as a liddle " was the 

 verdict of Smithers, a veterinary surgeon v\^ho had done 

 a good deal of training in his time, and who super- 

 intended our champion's preparation ; and though wc 

 were ignorant of the precise degree of fitness to which 

 fiddles usually attain, he seemed pleased, and so con- 

 sequently were we. Unfortunately, on this morning- 

 Bertie's old hunter proved to be very lame, so I was 

 forced to take my last gallop by myself; and with 

 visions of success on the morrow, I passed rapidly 

 through the keen air over the now familiar way ; for the 

 course was within a couple of miles of the house, and so 

 we had the great advantage of being able to accustom 

 the mare to the very journey she would have to take. 



Bertie was in a field at the back of the stables when 

 I neared home again. " Come on ! " he shouted, point- 

 ing to a nasty, hog-backed stile, which separated us. I 



