158 In Scarlet and Silk 



and came down half a mile from home, and, 

 thoroughly pumped out, lay without making 

 an effort to rise. I escaped without a scratch, 

 and was taking hold of the horse's bridle to 

 try and get him on his feet again, when a 

 voice from the crowd exclaimed — 



" Let 'im alone, guv'nor. It ain't orfen as 

 'e gits a rest ; let 'im lie down while 'e can, 

 unless you're a-goin' to run 'im agen in the 

 next race ! " 



From time to time I have ventured to 

 point out, in different publications, two or 

 three matters which I think are mainly 

 accountable for the present depression in the 

 steeplechasing world. I prefer to use the 

 word depression to decadence : I believe, and, 

 as an enthusiastic lover of the sport, fervently 

 hope, that this state of things is only tem- 

 porary. One of the stumbling-blocks to the 

 farmer who breeds and breaks, and to the 

 hunting-man who owns, horses smart enough 

 to try conclusions with others over a steeple- 

 chase course, is the artificial character of 

 the fences, and particularly of that wretched 



