352 The Post and the Paddock, 



of them still. It was a horse of Mr. Foljambe*s that 

 gave me those eleven, but he never hurt me. He 

 gave 250 guineas to Sir Tatton for him before he was 

 broke. My foot got twisted in the stirrup over his 

 neck at one jump, and away he went with me right 

 down a long stubble before I could get righted. 



Lord Scarboro' often lent me to Mr. Foljambe when 

 I was at Rufford. What a fine horseman he was ! and 

 there's no better judge of a horse now. It 'uU be three 

 years since we were out with The Rufford ; he says to 

 me, " What are you mounted on to-day, Christian .?" 

 I said, " She's thorough-bred, sir, and she's by Ithuriel 

 out of a Langar mare, and that's all I've heard of 

 her." So he says, " Come here, and I'll handle her." 

 When he came to her legs, he says, " Why, Christian, 

 she's wonderful here ; at least eight inches below the 

 knee." That was the fact ; I had measured her that 

 very morning, and she was just 8 J inches there. When 

 he's about to purchase a horse, he'll have him trotted up 

 and down a road, and the least inequality of action he 

 can detect quicker than those who see them. He went 

 purposely to Tattersall's to handle and buy that horse 

 Rataplan. 



You jumped on me quite sudden last night ; I 

 didn't see just what you were driving at ; but, my 

 word, I am ready for you now. I laid awake, study- 

 ing, a good bit of the night. That 'ere bull I told 

 you about ; I remember another break I had when 

 I was with Sir Gilbert. It was near Glaston, and 

 Mr. Pochin, the parson, fell just before me, and I 

 jumped clean over him. He laid as close as a hare, 

 and Abbey, the huntsman, shouted, "■ You can lie 

 where you are, Mr. Pochin ; you'll not be wanted 

 till Sunday." How Sir Gilbert did laugh, to be 

 sure! 



What a fine rider Sir David Baird was ! When he 

 first comes to Melton we found at Ranksboro' Gorse, 



