THE THISTLE DOWN". 15 



in order to him. '' A three-year-old colt, sir^ that we 

 call Aristophanes/' is the simple introduction, given ^Yith 

 an air of indifference, which we attempt so indifferently 

 to echo as to bring* up an involuntary smile on the coun- 

 tenance of our g-uide. And this is Aristophanes ! This 

 resolute powerful bay, who follows on with something- in 

 his air and manner of indolent hauteur, is the great favour- 

 ite for the gTeat race of the year. This is the horse that 

 the papers write about, the clubs talk about, and the world 

 perpetually thinks about. Should he be heard to coug-h, 

 it might make a difference of thousands. Were he to 

 spring' a sinew, or throw a curb, or even to turn up that 

 haugiity nostril of his over the next feed of corn, the 

 knowledg-e of such a calamity would convulse the market. 

 There are g-reat men who would give much for the oppor- 

 tunity to see what we shall now, as Mr. Shepherd sends 

 the illustrious five down to the other end of the planta- 

 tion, with orders to " come along* at a pretty g'ood 

 pace." 



Now keep your eyes open, as old Barnoldby leads oft', 

 almost mechanically, with the lad hustling- and threaten- 

 ing-, to force him out. But he has done his duty ably 

 enoug-h already, and our gaze centres, some few lengths 

 off, on his successor. Mr. Shepherd can bear it^ ^' The 

 crack" is going* sweetly, and the more he extends himself, 

 the more determinedly he pulls at his rider, the more you 

 like him. There is the long, even, stealthy, almost slovr- 

 seeming- stride, like the steady stroke of the accomplished 

 swimmer ; and yet with what liberty he strikes out ! how 

 well his hind-leg's come under him ! and with what courag-e 

 he faces the hill, as old Barnoldby, having* made a pace 

 at last, appears wickedly inclined to find out what the 

 young one can do ! Their Two Thousand na^ is behind 



