90 TALES AND TRAITS OF SPORTING LIFE. 



trying' their merits with the Surrey — one because he 

 couldn't jump, the other because he wouldn't try ; and 

 had been persuaded also to feel the mouth of a third-rate 

 steeple- chaser in a scurry with the Hertfordshire; during 

 which his owner evinced a very laudable, but I need 

 scarcely add, unavailable ambition, to stick ^^ Young 

 Vivian/' into me. Well, Christmas was passed, and I 

 saw nothing for it, but a line to a friend in a far county 

 explaining my want of horse, j)rice not over a hundred, 

 and age not under six ; this, as I expected, produced an 

 invitation, and away I went without further notice to try 

 his stud and his board. The first morning after my 

 arrival was chosen for the first taste of the string ; but in 

 which my host could not accompany me, being nailed for 

 a special jury cause at the assizes, on the usual conditions 

 of gaining a guinea if he did go, and losing ten if he did 

 not. Previous, however, to setting- forth, he gave me 

 full particulars of the nag I was about to cross : age 

 rising eight, or, by the book, just that age j figure, my 

 maximum — eighty-five guineas, in fact, having already 

 been ofi'ered by an officer quartered in the neighbourhood ; 

 and character as to pace, fencing, and temper, as near 

 perfection as possible. One thing only in the way of 

 command was strongly impressed upon me — that whether 

 I liked my horse or not, I was to go along with him, for 

 the captain was still on the nibble, and one decisive day's 

 work might hook him outright. ^^ In short, sir," concluded 

 my friend, '^the grey, I know, as Sir Charles Bunbury 

 said, will do his duty if you do yours, and consequently 

 I shan't hear of any excuse. Bring home a lame horse 

 if you must, but I can't admit of a lame story." And 

 with that he started to find a verdict, and I a fox. 



The grey certainly, as far as appearances went, was 



