A MILITARY STEEPLE-CHASE 173 



have scratched your horse, and quite right, too. I 

 have accepted, and if you like to have the mount, 

 you are quite welcome." Of course, I was greatly 

 delighted, but told him that I had never ridden in 

 steeple-chase before. " But I have," growled the 

 Major, " and am not going to waste over this tin- 

 pot," as he irreverently called the cup, " so I 

 can show you the ropes. Come to my quarters 

 after breakfast to-morrow, and we will try the 

 horse." 



The next day I went there, and found the Major 

 mounted, awaiting me, and Jerry — a very fine brown 

 horse, with black points. I soon discovered that 

 he had one decided peculiarity — viz., at his first 

 fence, and sometimes the second, instead of ejoincr 

 up and taking it straight, he would whip round 

 suddenly and refuse. On thinking what coidd be 

 the cause of this trick, I came to the conclusion 

 that his mouth must have been severely punished 

 by the curb when he was first taught jumping ; 

 and on telling the Major my idea, he allowed me 

 to ride him as I pleased, so instead of an ordinary 

 double bridle, I put one with a couple of snaffles 

 in liis mouth, and very soon found that this had 

 the desired effect. Indeed, after a few days, he 

 took his first fence all right, unless flurried, and 

 before the day seemed quite trustworthy. 



