A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 179 



thought the four-in-hand turn out to be, this was 

 still more wonderful. There were nine horses 

 for this race, and four of them were ridden by 

 Bretons. One of these curious looking fellows was 

 mounted on a nice spicy little nag. No saddle, 

 merely a bit of rug, and an old roller on him. 

 And the rider's costume, what was it ? A pair of 

 the canvas trousers such as are worn by the coun- 

 trymen, and enormous wooden sabots, with a nail 

 sent into each heel to serve as a spur (a fact). The 

 large hat had been taken off and replaced with 

 a handkerchief passed over his head, and tied 

 under his chin. The sporting public was much 

 in favour of this horse and rider. I was told 

 confidentially he must win. " Mon cher" said 

 one to me, <f c'est un cavalier intrepide, effrayant. 

 II est stir de gagner." 



"Wall, I calkerlate, Britishers," said the 

 Yankee, coming up, " this air an exhibition yer 

 never seed before. It air a caution to snakes, this 

 air ; it licks all creashun holler, this do. There 

 they air, a ringing up the play. We'll jist git 

 by the stand and see this amoosement." 



It certainly was a ludicrous sight. There 

 were one or two Bretons nearly as bad off as our 



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