A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 187 



appearance. One horse fell back, and smashed 

 his rider's leg, another had his horse killed 

 (a broken back) landing on the other side. 

 I got a heavy fall, and a very severe shaking, 

 but as all the rest had refused, and no one ta 

 go against me, I won as I liked. 



My experience, which dates over twenty years 

 residence in France, has taught me to believe 

 that a horse, a good jumper, with a moderate 

 turn of speed, is the animal adapted for most 

 parts of France. He must be a weight carrier,, 

 and a sticker. I am not alluding to the steeple- 

 chases round Paris, or any of the very " swell " 

 ones, but he might do well there, as a rule. 

 Such a horse as I have named is the nag for 

 France. With a good and resolute rider on his 

 back, and a fair share of luck, he would find at 

 the end of the season he had paid all expenses, 

 with something to boot, to continue the war 

 with. 



We remained at St. Servan for a month, but 

 we lost our amusing American friend, Captain 

 Willum, who went back to Havre to join his 

 ship. As we had made many pleasant acquain- 

 tances here, and, moreover, had been promised 



