A. Bla^ck Diamond. 49 



as fast, and wherever others did, mounted upon 

 much more expensive animals. 



The proof of the pudding is in the eating. 

 What I could do others can do, and I can 

 only say, that if I had my time over again, I 

 would leave the riding and making of young 

 horses to those who are paid for it, and ride 

 only ready-made, if even second-hand, horses. 

 But what one takes a pleasure in at one time 

 of life we think of with very different feelings 

 as time goes on, and I suppose it will be 

 always so. 



There is an old saying, that a candid con- 

 fession is good for the soul, and I am going to 

 make one. I was never in my life very fond 

 of going best pace over rough ground ; I 

 mean w^hen your horse is thoroughly extended, 

 and going at all but racing pace. I verily 

 beheve that this really requires more nerve 

 than jumping the biggest fences. I have 

 known men who would hardly jump a sheep- 

 hurdle, and yet would go like steam across 

 ground covered with ant-hills, or even rabbit- 

 burrows, the most horrible traps you can find, 

 and which give the worst of falls, the most 

 imperial crowners. Again, I have known men 



