248 /// Scarlet and Silk 



him after a day with hounds ; but if the pail 

 was left just outside the door of his box, he 

 would always come out and steal it ! Perhaps 

 it was fortunate this animal had hoofs instead 

 of hands, otherwise he might have given 

 trouble in a respectably-conducted stable ! 



One of the most eccentric horses and 

 cleverest hunters I ever owned — and it mat- 

 tered not what country you set him down in, 

 he was equally good in them all — was a weight- 

 carrying, flea - bitten grey, Grey Billy. For 

 some years he had been carrying George 

 Champion, then huntsman to the Southdown 

 Foxhounds, and afterwards for two seasons of 

 the Goodwood. He would holloa and almost 

 kick the place down if hounds came anywhere 

 within hearing of him in his stable. I have 

 never seen a horse so keen on hunting before 

 or since. 



Of Billy it might be truly said that he 

 had forgotten as much as most horses knew. 

 During the two seasons I rode him, my 

 bodily weight was under eight stone, whilst 

 the horse could carry eighteen to twenty 



