1 90 In Scarlet and Silk 



the story-books say, down lie went, over his 

 horse's shoulder, leaving the wretched man in 

 front to o'o on and win, nolens volens. 



II 



As instancing the calm and beautiful way in 

 w^hich some owners expect you to risk your 

 life for the "honour and glory" of the thing 

 and their peculiar benefit, I may mention a 

 case that happened to me at a Hunt Steeple- 

 chase meeting some years back. I was just 

 getting " clothed and in my right mind " 

 after riding in the first race, when an excited 

 gentleman whom, to the best of my belief, I 

 had never even seen before in my life, came 

 up to me and said — 



" My jockey has failed me, and I've got 

 two horses running here this afternoon. Will 

 you ride for me ? " 



I asked which they were, and he told 

 me. Then with the utmost sang-froid he 

 added — 



" I don't think, as a matter of fact, that 



