TOM TRIGG. 19 



"Almost Mr. Top's very own words, sir," observed Puffy 

 Doddles, smiling at the reminiscence. 



" Ah ! " rejoined George Spindles, screwing up one of his 

 eyes, in order to get, perhaps, a concentrated aim with the 

 other, " the old buffer has been in the swim himself, and knows 

 his way about ! But come," continued he, rising from his seat, 

 " and I'll show you the colt you're to look after." 



Puffy Doddles expressed the utmost willingness to conform 

 with this request, and following his mentor to a long row of 

 boxes, flanking one side of a brightly-gravelled, well-kept stable- 

 yard, entered a door, by the exjDress invitation of George Spin- 

 dles, and was informed that before him stood " the best two- 

 year-old out" — Sunshine. 



CHAPTER III. 



From the antecedents of Puffy Doddles it may be inferred that 

 he was not an accomplished professor of the art coming under the 

 head of " chaffing," and, although much practised in the society 

 in which he moved, from the early stages of life to the present 

 epoch, no perceptible progress was made even in the rudiments 

 of the science. As a complete novice, therefore, Pobert Top's 

 u best lad" found himself greatly exposed to the shafts of satire, 

 winged in flights upon his introduction to the Great Stable of 

 the North, and frequently deemed it expedient to retire rather 

 than face the attack with such unequal odds arrayed against 

 him. One Tom Trigg may be said to have occupied the pro- 

 minent position of leader to the hostile forces, and the injuries 

 which this enemy to Puffy's peace of mind inflicted were not 

 caused through the agency of 



" A polished razor keen, 

 "Wounding with a touch, which was scarcely felt or seen." 



Mr. Trigg's notions in " coopering up a feller," as he described 



b2 



