GRUEL. 203 



touch gruel, and vice versa, while others will take 

 either. 



Gruel is a capital thing to give to a tired horse, 

 especially after hunting or on the way home. The 

 reader should know how to make it for himself. 

 Take a good double handful or more of oatmeal, and, 

 having put it into a bucket, pour some boiling 

 water over it and stir it round till it is like a thick 

 cream ; add a little more boiling water to it, and 

 then pour in sufficient cold water to reduce it to a 

 blood-heat, when a horse will drink it ; and if he is 

 very exhausted a wineglassful of gin or a bottle of 

 warm ale may be added, but not many horses will 

 take these stimulants. 



When oatmeal is not procurable, flour may be 

 substituted, and if neither is to be got, a bottle of 

 beer may be poured down the throat by inserting 

 the mouth of the bottle (the latter being wrapped 

 round with a rubber) in the space between the tusk 

 and grinders. I have often done this on cold or 

 wet nights when camped out, and after a time my 

 horses got to like it, and I am sure it did them good. 



That ' a merciful man is merciful to his beast ' is 

 a saying well known enough, and surely the com- 

 fort of the animal which has so well and generously 

 worked all day for you is worth a thought. Ay, 

 and if you are an English gentleman and an 



