lOO The Course, the Camp, the Chase 



day had declined to ride his horse again, and as he knew 

 no one else, he was going to ride it himself. Suddenly a 

 gleam of hope shot across his face, and he exclaimed 

 eagerly, " Oh, are you engaged for it ? Oh, do ride for me." 

 It had not occurred to me that he would ofier me the 

 mount, and I was a little taken aback as all I knew of the 

 horse was from seeing him bolt, and I wished, too, to keep 

 fresh enough to ride " Leading Suit " in both his races. I 

 replied that I would see how I got on in the first race, 

 and would let him know after that was over whether I 

 would ride " Tilbury Nogo " or not. Instantly he began 

 to undress, so that I exclaimed, " Wait a bit, it is not 

 certain yet that I can ride for you," " Oh, yes it is," he 

 replied, " it is sure to be all right," and off came one boot, 

 much to my amusement, and oif came the other boot, in 

 much greater haste than they had been put on. His face 

 was beaming again with relief, so it was evident there was 

 no help for it, and it was arranged that he should go down 

 to the fence, where the horse had bolted before, and be 

 ready with a hunting whip in case of accidents. When 

 we started, " Tilbury Nogo " ran straight enough at first, 

 and we came at the objectionable fence just behind the 

 leaders, as it seemed advisable that he should have a lead 

 over. The moment he saw it, however, he stuck his toes 

 into the ground, sliding right up to the rail and nearly 

 falling over it into the ditch from the impetus. I had 

 just turned him round to put him at it again when up 

 rushed Harrison with the hunting whip. In his zeal he 

 never looked to see where he hit, and the blows came fast 

 on my legs, on my hands, and on my body, as well as on 

 the horse. In vain did I shout at him to be careful, he 

 only redoubled his blows, and as the horse was plunging 



