124 Silk and Scarlet, 



Fox Chase f and he learnt for the first time how the 

 Holderness had run a fox down his chimney-pot at 

 Burnby during his absence, and broke it up under Will 

 Danby's and Col. Thompson's eyes, in his bachelor 

 bedroom. 

 The Waiting Sim's luckiest time was when he made 

 Game. ^is engagement with Sir Thomas Stanley; 

 and then his beloved Battledore not only ran away 

 from his Chester horses, but he won seven out of the 

 nine races he rode that week. Setting aside his great 

 struggle on Buzzard against Harry Edwards on Mer- 

 cutio at Pontefract, when he was called back dripping 

 wet from the town, to ride over a flooded course, one 

 of his neatest things was on Catherina at Liverpool. 

 General Chasse had been backed by Sir James Bos- 

 well for four great races, and won three of them, and 

 this only remained. " Well ! Fit beat yoii, Sim, with 

 the chestnut to-day!' said Fobert ; and " No, not if we 

 run it a hundred yards F was Sim's reply. Knowing 

 the General's weakness, neither of his antagonists 

 would make play for him, and they gently cantered 

 till within the distance of home, Lye waiting on Bird- 

 lime close at Catherina's quarters. At the critical 

 instant the General lurched ; and as Holmes touched 

 him with his spur, " Sim" just mettled his mare, who 

 was as quick as a cat on her legs, and slipped him two 

 lengths. For all that she only just got home, as the 

 chestnut, having at last something to follow, was 

 catching her every stride. He tried the same game on 

 with Scott, at Doncaster, who dare not set off for fear 

 Coriolanus should bolt. To keep behind till it became 

 a mere question as to which was quickest on their legs 

 was, in fact, " Sim's" only chance on such a bad mare. 

 Bill was so bothered and parched with wasting, that 

 he begged him, out of pity, to leave off walking, and 

 at least to trot by his side ; and so they came ami- 

 cably over the hill, where their reverie was broken by 

 ^\\ officious friend at the rails, who begged to.be per- 



