A MILITARY STEEPLE-CHASE l79 



lie was rather a lazy horse, though possessing enor- 

 mous " bottom." 



I had scarcely pulled up and turned round to go 

 to the scales, before I met the Major, who told me 

 I was " not to make a fool of myself and dismount," 

 before the clerk of the scales told me to, and then 

 he pitched into me for riding at the " Grip," as I 

 did, apprising me at the same time that he did not 

 care how I risked my neck, but " I might have 

 hurt the horse," adding, after a pause, and with a 

 grunt, '' but you won." 



The delight of our men was so great at two of 

 their officers being first and second, that it was all 

 that Vincent and myself could do to avoid being 

 carried about on their shoulders after we had 

 weighed in. 



The gallant captain was most awfully disgusted 

 at being beaten by " a couple of boys," and went off 

 immediately — resisting all invitations to stop and 

 dine at mess. I subsequently found out that when 

 I slipped him (at which he was particularly angry) 

 he gave his horse a sharp cut with his whip, which 

 seemed quite to upset it. 



On coming down to the water the horse jumped 

 short — dropping his hind legs in, and at the " Grip," 

 nearly got in, only saving itself by bucking over it, 

 and at the big boundary absolutely came down on 



