304 WHO IS TO RIDE HIM? 



His father had been a great breeder of horses, 

 and as George was just as enthusiastically fond of 

 them, the old blood had been kept up ; and with 

 the exception of a fine specimen of an old English 

 gentleman, who used to be daily seen walking about 

 in a blue coat with gilt buttons, buckskins and tops, 

 looking over his brood mares and colts, everything 

 was the same as before. All the servants had 

 been retained ; they loved " Master George " too 

 well to quit, nor had they been asked to. 



Bradon, when with his regiment, had been the 

 crack rider in it, and many a good stake had he 

 won for that gallant corps. His services had 

 always been most anxiously sought after, and 

 mounts given him in most of the great steeple- 

 chases of the day. 



He was so cool and collected, no bustle or flurry- 

 ing with him. A fine eye, a fine hand, a famous 

 judge of pace, and strong at the finish, with a 

 knowledge, that must almost have been born in 

 him, when to ease his horse, force the running, or 

 take advantage of any mistake. " On the whole," 

 Lord Plunger, who was no mean judge, used to 

 say — " on the whole I consider George Bradon the 

 finest cross-country rider in Europe." 



Bradon, though uncommonly lucky in his mounts, 

 bore his honours meekly, and when he sold out and 



