HARK FORRARD! 197 



he could at all account for the horse being so 

 systematically peppered as he seemed to be. 

 Tryall, the trainer, wrote saying that he could 

 in no way account for it. ' I can only suppose,' 

 he said, ' tliat they think they know something. 

 All I can tell you is this, that the horse cannot 

 lose the Leger except by some extraordinary 

 accident. I have trained for thirty years, and 

 never have I fancied any horse for any big race 

 as I fancy this horse for the Leger. If you are 

 the least anxious I hope you will come and see 

 him do a gallop/ 



On August 28 Reggie Miller and his wife 

 started for Radbrook via Mollerton, and Forti- 

 tude was put through the mill with the most 

 satisfactory results. 



' By the way, Tryall,' said Reggie to his 

 trainer after the gallop, ' I see that they are back- 

 ing this horse Decimal that we sold last back end.' 



'Yes, sir, and if he has mended his ways of 

 course he may beat us ; but rogues don't turn 

 honest with age — at least, I have never found 

 them do so.' 



