The Hunting Year 



of course has not the remotest chance of 

 winning under ordinary circumstances. But 

 Jones will go the nearest way and he will get 

 the course, and if by the chapter of accidents 

 there should be much falling it is just possible 

 that Jones may win after all, for Jones' grey has 

 never been known to fall; and in the days 

 when Plancus was consul, Jones did win a 

 Point to Point race in some such fashion. 

 He was lighter then, but he was still giving 

 a lot of weight away; and it was a fine per- 

 formance, and Jones is justly proud of the 

 handsome trophy that stands on his side- 

 board. 



There are sure to be half a dozen or perhaps 

 half a score youngsters well mounted, that goes 

 without saying, who are keenness itself, and 

 any of whose horses would have a chance if 

 they were to be ridden by that spare, hard-bitten 

 looking man who is superintending the saddling 

 of a plain looking screw in the corner. Both 

 horse and man are worth looking at. The 

 horse, standing about fifteen hands, is all 

 muscle, and though a little one, he is built on 



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