A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 159 



o, style of thing they have never been accustomed 

 to ; however, we will go and have a canter over 

 them to-morrow morning. Dashed if I shouldn't 

 like to take the shine out of Mossoo here. But 

 these chaps are up to a thing or two ; not only 

 here, but in the old country. I never could 

 make out the rights of that French mare losing 

 the One Thousand and ' carrying off the Oaks ' 

 as she did. My man shall sleep in the stable 

 with the horses, I'm not going to have them 

 nobbled ; and my boy (slapping me on the back), 

 if you'll only just attend to me, well commence 

 winning here, ' skin the lamb ' if we can, and 

 work our way through these country meetings. 

 The devil's in it, if we can't outride the French- 

 man ; at any rate, we will try." 



We found our horses went pretty well on the 

 sands, and although they were heavy in places, 

 we had nags which could carry us through dirt. 

 We entered the horses that day, but as we knew 

 nothing of the cattle against us, could do little 

 in the betting way. The day arrived for the 

 races, and I shall never forget my horror at 

 reading the " correct card." They had not got 

 our names rightly, which stood thus : 



