A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 177 



With Buxton bit, bridoon so trim, three chestnuts and a 



gray, 

 Well couple up, my leaders there ! ya ! hip ! we bowl 



away. " 



" May I ask/' said one of the gentlemen to 

 me as we got back to the smoking-room after 

 the departure of the fire-engine, as I had 

 named it, " why you call your horse Saltfish ?" 



" Why/' interposed Debenham, " because he 

 is a good one for &fast day. His first owner, a 

 most capital sportsman, lived near Bath, and both 

 he and Saltfish were well known. The horse was 

 in those days a hard puller, and often took old 



B into grief. One day/ 7 so the story goes, 



though I will not vouch for the fact, " he went 



slap into the hounds, and the Marquis of W 



was exceedingly wrath. ' Good God, Mr. B , 



he exclaimed, ' pray spare my hounds,- and ride 



a little wide of the pack/ Old B at the 



kill happened to be up first. ' Bravo B and 



Saltfish/ exclaimed someone on coming up. 



'Damn Saltfish/ exclaimed B pettishly, 



' I've changed his name/ e Changed his name, 

 they replied, f why what the deuce do you call 

 him now ?' ' What do I call him ?' retorted 



12 



