78 PINK AND SCARLET 



can be estimated mathematically if desired, by con- 

 siderinor the difference between the radius, or the 

 diameter of the circle, which produces each. 



The nature of the lash has a good deal to say to 

 the noise made by a crack, and a stout silk lash 

 seems the best. An old hunt servant recommended 

 a piece out of a stout silk handkerchief; presumably, 

 however, this would not last long. The sort of 



/^■^- 



Fig. 3. Flicking a Whip. 



thong also makes a difference, and it must be a fairly 

 stout one. 



A final word about the cracking of a whip. 

 Unless your horse is used to having a whip cracked 

 on his back, it must be done at first with caution. 

 The thong should be let loose and swung about 

 gradually ; then, when he will stand it, " flicked " 

 a little, and when the actual crack is attempted 

 great care must be taken not to hit him with the 

 thong. 



Plate XV. shows the right and the wrong way 

 of attaching a thong to a crop. It also makes it 

 plain, by illustration, which is the thong and which 



