404 FIELD AND FERN. 



The Fawn was in the hunting stable, and so was 

 The Veteran by Rataplan ; but we had to toil over 

 the fallow to see Blood Royal, his winner of the last 

 Caledonian Cup. He was in a barn, and guarded, as 

 far as we could see, by a game-cock. The brown was 

 bred at Hallheaths, but Mr. Johnstone thought he 

 showed the white feather, and got rid of hira. At 

 first it seemed no catch, as he hit his leg, and was fired 

 and stopped in his work for nearly a year and a 

 half. 



With care and patience he was got fit enough 

 in Hoddom Holme to come out at Carlisle, and Joe 

 scored his first legitimate race. He ran again next 

 day, and showed the most sovereign disregard of posts, 

 and was, in fact, all over the course the moment he was 

 "pinched" at the river turn. At Ayr he turned sulky, 

 and could hardly be got on to the ground until Joe 

 mounted him; andSkipjack^s party, seeingthe humour 

 he was in, sent their horse along the three miles to 

 break his heart. However, the lad obeyed Joe^s 

 orders not to hustle Blood Royal, and to catch them 

 up the straight, which he did cleverly enough. And 

 so the Caledonian Cup winner returned into barn re- 

 sidence for the winter and spring, and then perhaps, 

 after another yearns retirement, he may go flapping 

 again. As Joe says, " It's something to look at a Cale- 

 donian Cup winner ; but he^s got no heart in him for all 

 that:' 



The shore of the Solway became a reality at last, 

 and when we reached what was once the sea- side 



