THE THISTLE DOWN. 17 



fail'; in fact, with the liood finally thrown over his qiiarter- 

 piece, when, to his manifest disgust, we are nshered into 

 his box. 



No one hkes to be interfered with at dinner-time, and 

 *' Harry" strikes out rather angrily with his near fore-leg 

 when his valet proceeds once more to strip him. That 

 eye is full of character, as he turns it upon you, but the 

 long' lean head is not so handsome as it is expressive ; 

 yet how finely it is set on to his thin somewhat straight 

 neck, and how beautifully that, again, fits into his magni- 

 ficent sloping shoulders ! There is breadth and freedom 

 of play, supported by long powerful arms and short wiry 

 legs, heavier m the bone than any hairy-heeled John Jolly 

 that ever drew a drayman. Come a little more forward, 

 and glance over that strong muscular back, those drooping 

 quarters, and big clean hocks — and then say if the 

 thorough-bred horse, in high condition, be not a very hero 

 of strength and swiftness ! He would gallop the far- 

 famed Arabian of the desert to death, and you would be 

 but as an infant with him. He would rush off with you 

 in his first canter, docile and sluggish as he was at exer- 

 cise ; and with one lash out of that handsome haunch he 

 would send you far over his head ; or " order " you out of 

 his box in an instant, as you awkwardly attempt to **go 

 up to" him. Somewhat grim is the humour of Aristo- 

 phanes ; and, as we hear as plainly as he does the rattle 

 of his dinner-service, suppose we wish him good morning, 

 and assure Mr. Shepherd confidentially, when once more in 

 the open, that he is the very finest Derby horse we ever 

 saw, and that we shall seriously think about backing him 

 for a '^ stoater," ^^ a monkey," "ahysiena," or — a tvv'o- 

 shilling piece. 



There are nearly forty others to strip and talk over^ 



c 



