GALLOPING ST CLOUD II. 



horses about. The horse's usual lad had better be on 

 him until the time came for the gallop." 



I could see that he didn't think much of me so I said 

 quietly : " If that's so then the boy had better ride him 

 in the gallop too." 



He seemed a little annoyed but finished up the talk 

 by saying : " Just as you like. You had better be at 

 the stable at seven in the morning." 



He was a great big devil, St Cloud IL, standing about 

 seventeen and a half hands, but he walked out all 

 right to the gallops. The boys were sniggering and 

 when we did a light canter they tried to guy me. The 

 horse went sweetly with me. Then the boys started 

 whispering. I heard one of them say : " Wait till he 

 comes the other way." Presently they put Quibble 

 to lead me a gallop, and St Cloud II. he seemed to like 

 me even better, for he stretched along and I found out 

 he was no end of a nice horse. That was all which 

 was done. 



I hung about Newmarket making the acquaintance 

 of a few people at the Rutland, and got up on St Cloud 

 once or twice again. It was all very dull and no one 

 seemed to want to make friends with me. 



The following week was the First October Meeting 

 and not a ride came my way. I went down to the post 

 on a pony I had got hold of and I watched the starts 

 and felt as if I could beat the best of them. At last I 

 had a mount or two on bad horses without any chance 

 at all. I shall never forget the way all those in the 

 ring and on the stands behaved to me the first time I 

 cantered out. It was my first appearance. They 

 had seen no one riding with what they called the 

 " Monkey-on -the-stick " seat and a big laugh went 

 up. It must have been mighty funny to them. I 

 know I didn't appreciate it myself. However I stuck 



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