172 TALES AND TRAITS OF SPORTING LIFE. 



miicli mixed up with love as moneys lionoiir — suhaudito, 

 as the g'liai'dian of both. 



Time, tide, and Derby days, wait for few of us, and the 

 anbehevers felt the crisis creeping* on them with anything* 

 but agreeable sensations. The new wonder was heralded 

 b}' the press as on his way to ilie scene of action, and a 

 few words added on the commendable caution which 

 characterised his transit. A lad inside to take care of the 

 horse, and a policeman inside to take care of the lad. 

 Mr. Make-believe on the box to take care of those under 

 him; and the Honourable Prior as avant courier on his 

 hack half a mile a-head, to order horses on, and shoot the 

 first man dead that dared to ask a question. And then 

 the choice of quarters ag-ain proved no chance thrown 

 away in that item ; none of your Spread Eagies 

 public stables, or anything* of that sort, where the oppo- 

 sition would have a hole ready bored, and a pipe of aqua 

 fortis laid on before the crack had been in an hour. 

 Nothing of that, but a nice lonely farm-house, all under 

 our own command, and everything* submitted to the most 

 trying* ordeal. Blacksmith searched and sworn to at the 

 utmost value of his life before a shoe was moved or a plate 

 fastened. Hay queried again and ag-ain, corn ensured as 

 it came from home, and straw for litter ventured on at a 

 handful a time. While, as for water — every soul with 

 access to the premises drank regularl}^ at every stable 

 time an imperial pint to his own share, in witness of his 

 sincerit}^ ; save and except only C. 99, who having* as 

 usual " unequalled opportunities" for perpetrating* villanies 

 liimself in his official capacity of hindering* other people, 

 took a fair fourth of the bucket, and then passed 

 it on with a clear conscience and small thirst to the 

 noble '^animal" (as some oracles will call a race-horse). 



