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THE COURSE
THE CAMP
THE CHASE

REMINISCENCES OF .

THE COURSE
THE CAMP
THE CHASE

Colonel R. F. MEYSEY-THOMPSON

LONDON
EDWARD ARNOLD

ipubKsbcr to tbe JnMa ®Cice
37 BEDFORD STREET, STRAND

ST

PREFACE.

A COUNTRY that has no history is said to be a happy one.
A woman " with a past " does not consider it a subject of
congratulation. Lucky man is, however, more fortunate,
and may consider that a compliment lies hid in the request
that he should write a history of his past life, since the
scenes in which he has played his part may be supposed
to contain sufficient interest to bear description for the
amusement of others.

There is another side of the question, however, which
is scarcely so flattering, for such a request also implies that
the active part of a man's life may be deemed to lie behind
him, and that for the future he must be content to read
of the achievements of younger men, instead of sharing in
them as in the days of yore.

There is one merit that I can claim for the anec-
dotes related in this book ; this is that they are
absolutely true, and care has been taken to check the
incidents by referring to diaries and old letters, where
memory might have unintentionally proved inaccurate.
It is a record of life, as I have known it, for nearly
fifty years.

CONTENTS.

Chap.

I. Yorkshire Celebrities
II. Sport Forty Years Ago and To-Day

III. Eton .

IV. Artfulness and Art
V. The Moors

VI. Sires and Brood Mares
VII. Anecdotes of Racehorses
VIII. Some Steeplechase Horses
IX. Devonshire .
X. Ireland
XI. Irish Humour
XII. Regimental Prisoners

XIII. War .

XIV. Spain .
XV. How Races were Won and Lost

XVI. " Plenipo," "Colonist," and "King George
XVII. Training Difficulties— Spanish Justice— The Bull
Ring
XVIII. Some Racing Experiences
XIX. Anecdotes of Former Days
XX. Hunting Sketches .
XXI. Sir Charles Slingsby
XXII. With the York Packs

XXIII. Animal Magnetism .

XXIV. Conclusion .

PAGE

I

14
27

43
54
66

75
90
102
118
132
144

153
172
183
193

208
221
236
249
262
277
294
305

f

REMINISCENCES OF

THE COURSE, THE CAMP, THE CHASE.

CHAPTER I.

Yorkshire Celebrities.

In 1851 the great match between " The Flying Dutchman "
and " Voltigeur " took place at York, on Knavesmire, when
the former revenged himself for his defeat in the Doncaster
Cup in the previous year. This match absorbed the minds
of every man, woman, and child in Yorkshire in a greater
degree than any sporting event that I can recall to
memory.

The very cart-horses were " Dutchmen " for some time
after this event, while "Voltigeur" became a favourite
name for pointers and setters. It may have been the
impression then stamped on my youthful mind, by the
frequent conversation of those about me regarding these
two famous horses, that laid the foundation of a love for
" Silk " and " Eacehorses," which has ever since accom-
panied me through life.

Of the incidents connected with this famous race there
are not many fresh facts to be recorded. It may, how-
ever, be news to some persons that " The Flying Dutchman "
had been sold to my cousin, the late Mr. Henry Stafford-

2 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Thompson, on behalf of the newly formed Stud Company
at Eawcliffe, before the race at Doncaster. He was to be
delivered up after he had run, and every'one connected
with the stable fully expected to see him easily win the
Cup. That he did not do so is a matter of history. Mr.
Henry Thompson, who then generally advised as to the
management of Lord Eglinton's racing stud, always stated
that Marlow lost his head and did not ride to orders;
but Mr. Eichard Johnson, the famous old northern
racing judge, put the case in a different light, in a
conversation on the subject in August 1897. He said —

" The cause of the horse being beaten was that Lord
Eglinton said to Marlow, after he was ' up,' ' Now, go and
make an example of him.' I was quite close to them
when this order was given, and Marlow forced the pace so
that the ' Dutchman ' was run to a standstill, as he was a
little short of work. Undoubtedly,^ if he had waited on
'Voltigeur' he would have won, though the latter was a
good horse. Undoubtedly, the ' Dutchman ' should never
have been beaten."

Marlow was certainly not a first-class jockey, though a
fair, steady rider; and it should also be recollected that,
in both the Cup and the Match, " The Flying Dutchman "
carried a slightly heavier weight than is now recognised as
the proper weight-for-age scale. It is believed that the
measure of the " Dutchman " was never found out, in his
home trials ; and when it is recollected what trial tackle
was possessed in " Van Tromp " and " Elthiron," among
many others, there is sufficient proof of what a phenomenon
he must have been.

It had been intended that "The Flying Dutchman"

1 This word was a very favourite expression of "Judge " Johnson.

YorkshU^e Celebrities 3

should retire to the stud after the season in which the
Doncaster Cup was run, and dire was the consternation at
his defeat, with the loss of prestige that would ensue star-
ing the newly-formed Eawcliffe Stud Company in the face.
Mr. Henry Thompson, therefore, successfully used his
powers of persuasion to induce the Earl of Eglinton to
retain the horse in training, for a match with his con-
queror. The confidence of all connected with " The Flying
Dutchman," that he could beat " Voltigeur," when thoroughly
wound up, proved to be fully justified.

He did not prove a success in England at the stud ; and
his stock mostly inherited a very long back, which much
militated against their chances. On the other hand, they
were excellent hacks, and first-rate jumpers. They were
generally well-balanced, with plenty of length, good bone,
long arms, beautiful shoulders, and very resolute ; so that
at one time they were almost invincible in steeplechases
(not exceeding three miles), over the old-fashioned, rough,
country courses then in vogue.

" Le Batave," " Benazet," " The Brick," " Woodbury
Hill," " Top Sawyer," and many others, by their repeated
victories, stamped him as one of the best steeplechase sires
of the day.

Though he would have been invaluable in Ireland,
breeders of blood-stock in England care nothing for steeple-
chase horses, and as his flat-race progeny were not up to
the mark, he was soon dubbed a failure. He was sold to
France, where he eventually became the progenitor of a
higher class of horse than he had given us here. " Dollar,"
" Sornette," " Dutch Skater," " Jarnac," " Massanissa," and
others, were good racehorses, and showed that if our
breeders had had more patience, they would have even-

4 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

tually reaped their reward. His daughter, " Brown
Duchess," won the Oaks, and his blood is one of the
strains in the most successful racing family of the present
time, that of the mighty " Galopin " and his even more
famous son, " St. Simon."

At this very last Ascot meeting, indeed, his blood has
again come to the front in an astonishing way. " Elf II.,"
son of " Upas," son of " Dollar," son of " The Flying
Dutchman," has put us all to shame, and carried off our
most coveted prize — the Ascot Cup. It is quite on the
cards that he may eventually become a successful sire,
and bring that splendid blood again into fashion, even as
" Barcaldine " and " Arbitrator " resuscitated the almost
extinct line of " West Australian."

The female line has also shone lately with a blaze
of triumph, and carried off the St. Leger of 1898 by
the help of " Wild Fowler," whose grand-dam, " The White
Witch," was a daughter of " Massanissa," the well-known son
of " The Flying Dutchman," and thus added further testi-
mony to the value of " a nick " with this famous family of
racehorses.

" Ellington," his only Derby winner, took the longest
time to win that race that any horse has ever required ;
and mayhap, if all the stories that floated about were
true, he was more than lucky in winning it. If the
present Eegulations of Eacing had been then in force,
no Derby would have gone that year to Swinton, for
when his jockey took his seat in the scales, on weighing-
in, he carried in his hand a whip, weighing 7 lb., with
which he averred he had been riding, and it was only
by the help of that whip that he could draw his weight
correctly. That a change of whips had been effected

Yorkshire Celebrities 5

was of course very broadly hinted afterwards ; at
anyrate, it speedily had the effect of causing the new
rule to be added, by which no jockey is allowed to
weigh with a whip, or any substitute for one.

In the autumn of that year. Admiral Harcourt, in
my presence, related to my father how he had called
on his friend, Lord Abingdon, on his return from the
Derby, and after some little conversation exclaimed —

" I have just won the Derby ! are you not going
to congratulate me ? "

" Oh ! is it a subject of congratulation ? " replied
Lord Abingdon, " then I do so heartily ! "

" What is fame ? an expression of terms eulogistic,
The making a hero, by popular cry !
It may last but a day, that is characteristic !

Then the man is forgot, who was praised to the sky."

Though " The Flying Dutchman " was a very resolute
horse, he was actually ridden occasionally in his gallops
by the daughter of Mr. Henry Thompson, who afterwards
married Colonel Soames Jenyns, the chief of the 13th
Light Dragoons (now the 13 th Hussars). She was the
finest horsewoman of the day, and many of her feats were
long remembered in her native county. Very frequently
she used to come out hunting on thoroughbred two-year-
olds, and it was quite a lesson to watch the way she
handled them, and soothed their impetuosity, regardless of
the plunges that the excitement of the hunting-field
caused them to make. Whenever she did ride a
hunter that knew its business, no one could go straighter
or harder. Her daughter. Miss Jenyns, now hunting in
Cheshire, inherits her mother's talent to the full, and for
elegance of seat, skill, and daring, is unsurpassed.

6 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Once, when Miss Thompson was staying at Kirby Hall
with her father, before she married, I remember seeing
them mount at the hall door before going out hunting.
All the guests, who had been invited for the covert shoot-
ing, also came downstairs to see them start. The late
Duchess of Eoxburghe was amongst them, and not having
much knowledge of the capabilities of a horse, or, in fact,
of riding at all, exclaimed, " Oh, Miss Thompson, do show
us what you can do." This was rather a startling request,
as there was no fence of any sort to be seen, except an
iron railing, separating the large, circular gravel drive from
the park. After settling herself in the saddle, the girl
just looked round, started her thorough-bred horse into
a hand canter, and jumped the iron railings, much to the
satisfaction of the Duchess, who never for one moment
appreciated the nerve and skill required to do such a feat
in cold blood, but still felt that she had seen something
worth seeing.

The brother of Mrs. Jenyns, the famous gentleman
rider Mr. O. S. Thompson, steered " Cambondo " in the
St. Leger, and was one of the very best jockeys of his
day. He could go to the scales quite easily at 7 st. 6 lb.
His determined finish at Doncaster, against Johnny
Osborne on " Holy Friar," who won a short half-length,
still lingers in the minds of those who saw it. It was a
representative field of jockeys, too, that it would be hard
indeed to equal at the present day. Fred Archer was
third, on Lord Falmouth's " Yorkshire Bride " ; Maidment
fourth, on Mr. Savile's colt by "Skirmisher"; Tom
Chaloner fifth, on Mr. Johnstone's " Perkin Warbeck " ;
while Lord Wilton's ch. f. by " Lord Clifden," was sixth,
ridden by Tom Cannon. It only required G. Fordham

Yorkshire Celehdties 7

and distance to have included almost the whole of the
crack jockeys of that day. Mr. Thompson's greatest
feat, perhaps, was getting Lord Zetland's " Hardrada "
home, and beating F. Archer, on Mr. Cragg's " Oxlip,"
by a head, in the Garbutt Pedestrian Handicap at
Stockton, after a desperate finish from beyond the
distance.

In a characteristic letter he writes : " I think I should
hardly like to crow over poor F. Archer, unless I also
mentioned that I had had three close finishes with Johnny
Osborne, and that he had beaten me by a head in each of
them. Very disgusting ! I spoke to his mother, a dear
old woman, of his heartless conduct to me, and begged she
would give a good talking to him !

" I should think my race-riding career was chiefly
remarkable for carrying more dead weight than, I imagine,
any other jockey ever did. 5 st. 10 lb. of lead I often
carried ; and once 6 st. 6 lb., to ride ' Fairyland '13 st.
1 0 lb., and it did not stop her winning ! "

For the first winning race he ever rode — indeed the
first time he ever rode a race — he carried a very different
weight. His father had made a match with a friend, to be
run at a meeting held on Eawcliffe Ings, half a mile at catch
weights. There was no actual condition as to the riders,
though the meeting being an amateur one, Mr. Thompson
naturally supposed that only " gentlemen-riders " could
ride in the match. At the last moment, however, his
opponent produced as his jockey a lad from John Scott's
stable, who had ridden several winners in public, weighing
under 7 st., and as Mr. Thompson weighed 11 st. himself,
he very naturally objected. Having found, on referring to
the articles, that there was no clause about the jockeys,

8 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

and feeling very much annoyed at being " done," Mr.
Thompson rode off to the carriage where his wife was
sitting, and requested her to " Hand me out George."
Through the window he was accordingly handed, and
quickly transferred to the back of the " Maid of Skelgate,"
his bodily weight being only 2 st. 13 lb. " Hold your
reins tight, and as soon as they say ' Go,' come home as
fast as you can," were the orders he received, and carrying
them out to the letter, he won by several lengths, to the
delight of the crowd.

Once when schooling the famous " Globule " with the
York and Ainsty, he got a fall near Whixley, and
turned a complete somersault. On reaching home, he
missed some money that had been in his waistcoat
pocket, so he returned the next day to the place where
he had fallen, and there he found the coins at the very
spot. " Globule " was a very small horse, but extra-
ordinarily stout, and he won the Great Metropolitan
Steeplechase, of four miles, at Croydon, at that time
perhaps the next most important steeplechase after the
Liverpool.

Mr. Heathcote, who then owned and lived at " The
Durdans," Epsom, now the residence of Lord Eosebery,
had a famous racing pony, and before the Metropolitan
Steeplechase was decided arranged a match between this
pony and " Globule," to be run on the succeeding day.
The conditions stated that 7 lb. were to be allowed
for every inch in height, and great was Mr. Heathcote's
consternation when the two competitors came to be
measured, to find that whereas his own pony was 14
hands 2| inches, "Globule" was only 14 hands 3 inches.
He therefore had to meet " Globule," the recent winner

Yorkshire Celebrities 9

of the Metropolitan Steeplechase, at a difference of only
2>\ lb. in weight, which was, of course, a foregone con-
clusion. " Globule " subsequently ran third for the
Liverpool Grand National, and was one of many instances
showing how well little horses can perform over that
tremendous course, if only they are not crushed with too
much weight.

Mr. George Thompson once had an extraordinary
escape from what might have been a fatal accident. He
was riding a four-year-old into York, when it bolted
coming down Blake Street, facing the end of which is
Harker's Hotel. With great difficulty the runaway was
stopped on the very pavement of the house, but when
turned round to go back the horse started off again, and
went up a narrow passage between St. Helen's Church
and the Clarence Hotel. This was paved with large stone
flags, and across it, about half-way down, was a high
iron railing dividing it into two parts. The four-year-old
went straight at this, and managed to get over without
either horse or rider getting a fall, though two of the iron
spikes were broken off. A cross-bar, also of iron, ran
across the top of the railing, at the height of 5 feet 2
inches from the flags. This must have been actually
cleared, or a very heavy fall would have been a certainty.
The spikes rise 6 inches above the cross-bar, making
the total height of the leap 5 feet 8 inches — a formidable
obstacle indeed to face on a wild four-year-old.

Mr. Thompson still has in his possession one of the
plates won by " The Flying Dutchman " in the historic
match ; it is undoubtedly one of the greatest racing trophies
of this century.

How well I remember when " Blink Bonny " won the

lo The Coztrse, the Camp, the Chase

Derby and Oaks, I was at school at Sherburn, not far
from Malton. When the news arrived, our dear old
master, the Eev. John Mason, vicar of the parish, started
off with his brother, the doctor, to drive over to I'Anson's
to interview the famous mare. They returned, much dis-
appointed, old Mr. Mason telling his pupils that " she
was only a little brown mare, and he thought very little
of her."

The ideas of people, unused to racing, concerning race-
horses, are often very amusing to those who are more
expert at the game. What is generally liked is a horse
" as round as an apple," and it is quite forgotten that
two-year-olds and three-year-olds are really mere babies.
When they see the same horses at mature age, as stallions
or brood mares, fully grown and very fat, they feel
satisfied, and can appreciate them ; but a horse in severe
training is rather a puzzle. They do not appreciate his
good points, and do not admire him. " Blink Bonny's "
skeleton now reposes in the Museum of the Philosophical
Society at York, together with one of the stirrups she
carried when she won the Derby and Oaks, and which
broke in the latter race, fortunately without causing
any harm.

There are other interesting relics in that museum,
telling of Knights of the Eoad, There repose the iron
girdle and shackles worn by that Prince of Highwaymen,
Dick Turpin, when he was confined to York Castle before
his execution. There, too, lie the shackles of an even more
famous highwayman than Dick — W. Nevinson, who was
finally captured and hung at York, 1676. He was
credited with having performed many acts of charity to
the poor in his district, and was so popular in consequence

Yorkshire Celebrities 1 1

that he was nearly always warned in time when the
emissaries of the law were after him. It was he that
used to let off the ladies — at least the young and pretty
ones — for the ransom of a kiss and a gavotte when he
robbed a coach or chaise ; and it is recorded of him that
if his victims appeared to be poor and unable to afford
the loss of their money and valuables, he occasionally
handed them back the whole, or a portion of their
property, only reserving for himself the spoils of the rich.
He lived at a cottage between Thirsk and the Hambledon
Hills, not far from Feliskirk, where the ancient hospice
stood of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, From this
cottage, tradition tells how Nevinson once escaped by the
ingenious device of reversing the shoes of his horse, so
that his pursuers, in consequence, followed his tracks for
some distance in the wrong direction, in the snow which
had just fallen. The highwayman was thus afforded
sufficient time to make good the start he had obtained,
and escaped through the intricate valleys of that wild
moorland region.

Of Dick Turpin's famous ride to York — if such ever
did take place — there is supposed to be a memento in the
Infantry Barracks at Fulford. A huge elm tree stands
there, not far from the old Great North Eoad from Don-
caster, which is popularly believed to have been planted
over the grave of " Black Bess." At anyrate there is this
coincidence with the touching legend, that the tree and the
alleged place of the death of the mare are both just within
hearing of the deep tones of the Minster on a calm day,
Dick Turpin was executed at York in 1739. My
maternal grandfather, the late Sir John Croft, was once
stopped by highwaymen in Kent, soon after his return

12 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

from the Peninsular War, but as he was at that time
rather a local hero, on finding who their captive was they
released him without ransom and set him free. He was
in the habit of keeping up great state — in the fashion of
those days — and his outriders and men-servants being
always dressed in crimson livery, his equipages were
frequently taken for those of Royalty. When attend-
ing church on Sundays, a footman in crimson livery
used to walk behind him, carrying the prayer books.
The permission to use the Eoyal livery and the Royal
Lion as a crest was a special grant made by King
Charles I. on I7th June 1641, after paying a visit
to Sir Christopher Croft, and obtaining a subsidy from
him. Sir Christopher, however, afterwards joined the
Commonwealth, and being attainted at the Restora-
tion, he lost the right to use both the liveries and
the crest, and it was not restored until 1834. In that
year, in consequence of Sir John Croft's services in the
Peninsular War, he was granted the right — so unusual
for a commoner — to have " supporters," and it was then
discovered that the attainder had never been removed.
Sir John was most anxious to regain the right of using
the Royal liveries, the Royal Lion as crest and the Cross
of St. George, but was informed this could only be done if
he was able to prove a Royal descent. Fortunately he was
able to do so, and the ancient privileges accorded to his
ancestor were given back, with the exception that, in
consequence of the attainder, the liveries were to be
crimson instead of scarlet for the future.

He had brought back a clever Portuguese horse with
him, and was rather fond of backing him to do unusual feats.
One of these was to ride half-way down the Devil's Dyke

Yorkshire Celebrities 13

at Brighton, then to turn round and ascend again, which
he successfully accomplished. Another time he rode up
and down the steps leading from Waterloo Place into St.
James's Park in London, which are very narrow. A horse
accustomed to the rugged sierras in the Peninsula, and
sure-footed, as all the native horses are, did not perhaps
find so much difficulty in accomplishing these deeds as at
first sight appeared.

A very interesting relic exists at Ked House, on the
banks of the Eiver Ouse, in Yorkshire, where the statue
of a headless horse is a conspicuous object in the park.
It is the only statue of a horse lying down that I ever
remember to have seen. The inscription at the base tells
that this horse was the property of Sir Henry Slingsby,
and won the Hunters' Race on Acomb Moor at York in
1633, on the occasion of King Charles the First's visit to
Eed House.

Poor Sir Henry Slingsby lost his head in the Eoyal cause,
and it is supposed that some zealous Puritan knocked off
the head of the statue to accord with the fate of its master.

The capture of Sir Henry was scarcely a friendly act.
His near neighbour at Beningborough Park, on the other
side of the Ouse, was Sir John Bourchier, one of the
Ptegicides, and a most bigoted Puritan. He had reason to
suspect that Sir Henry had left his mansion at Scriven
and was hiding at Eed House, and for six weeks he kept a
close watch. At length, on a hot day, he saw Sir Henry
through a telescope. He had come out on to the roof to
get a little fresh air, and Sir John at once armed himself
with a search warrant and captured the unfortunate
baronet, who was shortly afterwards convicted of treason,
after a mock trial by a pretended court, and beheaded.

CHAPTER II.

Sport Forty Years ago and To-day.

My early reminiscences include seeing the daily coach from
Leeds arriving at Harrogate. There was then no train
communication between the two places, and in fact there
was no railway to Harrogate itself, the terminus of the
line being at Starbeck. Scarborough has also left many
quaint remembrances, among them being the soldiers at
the Castle in pre-Crimean days, in all the glory of high
stocks, epaulettes, cross-belts, and swallow-tailed coats.
We went up once to see the ball-practice, which was
carried on in the field in front of the Castle, at two targets
facing each other, 100 yards apart — quite far enough for
old Brown Bess ! A Minie bullet, which was said to be
able to kill a man at the distance of a mile, was viewed
with great awe. I very vividly remember the bells of the
old church being joyfully rung when the news came of
the victories of the Alma and Inkermann ; and what
interested us children quite as much was seeing our
mother go out to dinner in a sedan chair.

We used to take home little presents for special
favourites among the work-people, tea at 4s. per lb.,
sugar 8d., and only a very tiny bit of twist tobacco could
be bought for 6d. Wages were then only 8 s. and 9 s. a
week, except in the harvest time when they rose to 12s.

Sporl Forty Years Ago and To-day 1 5

How much better off in every way are the labouring
classes now !

In 1853 a terrier bitch was bought by one of the
keepers, J. Eobshaw, which laid the foundation of a very
plucky race, that came into my possession in 1866, and
has been carefully treasured ever since. A travelling
tinker came to the stableyard at Moat Hall (where my
father lived during his father's lifetime), accompanied by a
white terrier ; and the keepers, who were waiting about to
go out shooting, began to chaff the man about his dog.
It ended in an offer to back the bitch to kill three cats in
a given number of minutes, " and they might put them
how they liked." The offer was quickly accepted, the cats
obtained, and then cats and dog were bundled into a sack
together, the mouth tied up, and the " poke " thrown on
the floor. The keepers greatly enjoyed the joke, and the
presumed discomfiture of the tinker. There was a great
rumpus in the sack ; but when the time was up, and the
contents were shaken on to the ground, every cat was
dead, and the keepers had to pay up. Such a dog could
not be allowed to go away, and after much chaffering a
bargain was struck, and the terrier bought by Eobshaw.
This man was a great character in his way, and queer
stories occasionally cropped up as to what his life had
been before he became a keeper. He had the best game-
cocks in the country, and many a main was fought in
some quiet corner, usually when other folks had gone to
church. He loved a good dog, and seemed to have friends
everywhere who kept him posted as to the whereabouts of
every noted dog of every known breed.

A short time previously he, and a friend of his,
had managed to annex a bull-dog that had just won

1 6 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

the first prize at a show of the " Fancy " at Hull, in
order to use his services for a terrier bitch that they
possessed. Large rewards were promptly offered for the
recovery of the bull-dog, but he was kept for a week,
and after their purpose was served he was quietly put
in a hamper, and sent off, directed to his owner at Hull,
no one being a bit the wiser as to where he had been,
or for what reason he had been taken.

Bull-dogs were then a very different class of dog
from the hideous, misshapen brutes that are now accepted
as the proper type. Bull-baiting had not so very long
been suppressed, while dog-fighting was a very popular
pastime, and for large stakes too. A bull-dog was a
working dog, and had to be an active one, while such
was their courage that sometimes no means whatever,
however cruel, could make them relax their grasp when
once their blood was up. Fortunately they were not a
quarrelsome race, but they were greatly dreaded.

The bull-dog above mentioned was a splendid
specimen, with straight, well-shaped legs, a compar-
atively long, powerful muzzle, very muscular loins, and
a whip-tail. His weight was about 56 lb. Among
the produce of the above alliance was a puppy, named
" Nailer," which grew into a very powerful dog, 40 lb.
in weight. " Nailer " was matched against, and beat
every noted fighting dog in the district. His owner then
took him over to Kirk Hammerton, where a recently cap-
tured otter was kept in an iron cage, partly submerged
in the river Nidd, the captor deriving an income by
allowing any dog to tackle him, at a fixed sum. Up to
this date every dog had been easily beaten, but on
" Nailer " being put into the cage, he at once attacked

spoilt Forty Years Ago and To-day 1 7

the otter in the water, and in a short time killed it. In
the following year the same man obtained another otter,
and again " Nailer " was taken over, but the owner
promptly refused to allow the dog to attack it. " T'warnt
noa use," said he, " t' dog wur bound t' kill th' otter."
Whilst wrangling over the matter, " Nailer " settled it
himself, for somehow managing to get in unperceived, he
at once engaged the otter, and very quickly killed it
also. " Nailer," therefore, was sought as a husband for
the tinker's terrier, and on the principle, I suppose, that
it is impossible to have too much of a good thing, a
daughter of the ensuing litter was in due time consorted
with her father, and the foundation was laid of as plucky
a race of terriers as ever faced anything with a hairy
skin.

Sir C. Slingsby very kindly gave me a charming dog
puppy, " Vespa," which inherited some first-rate blood.
The first ancestor of which there is record was " Old
Vermin," bred by Ned Bates, the then huntsman to Sir
R. Puleston ; other ancestors, famous in their time, were
" Malpas," bred by Eev. T. Drake ; " Old Snow," bred
by the Earl of Sefton ; and " Old Wasp," bred by James
Stephenson, of Chester. This latter little champion won
seven prize battles, in the last one of which he gave his
opponent 1 lb., and fought for 1 hour and 40 minutes.

These terriers and their descendants have accompanied
me in all my wanderings, and have now arrived at the
tenth generation. They have never been entered at any
show, so that, untrammelled by any club rules, or
hampered by the changing fashion of the day, I have
been free to breed them for shape and work, as judgment
has dictated.

1 8 The Course^ the Camp, the Chase

Once, when a very young child, I was taken on a
pony to watch my grandfather, Mr, E. J. Thompson,
shooting on his pony, at the advanced age of eighty-two.
A most vivid remembrance has ever lingered of seeing
him led up to a " point " in a turnip field, and of his
killing a right and left out of the covey, without dis-
mounting. When a young man he joined the 4th
Dragoons, who were very soon employed in hunting the
adherents of the unfortunate " Prince Charlie " in Scot-
land. Some of the entries in his diaries are very
interesting ; and how stern discipline was then, is well
shown by the entry on 6th August 1793 : —

" A court-martial, in which Barnsley received 520
lashes, and Jones 420. Their sentence was 1000 for
desertion."

A more amusing entry appears 11th June 1794 : —

" Went to see Gretna Green, four miles from Long-
town, and made the old parson who performs so drunk
that he could not read ye marriage ceremony to a couple
who went there soon after to be married, and they were
obliged to wait till he was sober."

I7th July 1795 has the grave note: —

" Marched to GuUayn Links to attend the execution
of Fraser and Mctosh, two mutineers of ye Grants who
were condemned to be shot. Fraser made much resist-
ance."

On 27th December 1798 he "shot three wild geese,
one with ball at 150 yards flying, and another at 100
measured yards flying."

25th March 1799 gives — "Great race at Newmarket
between ' Diamond,' Cookson's horse, and ' Hambletonian,'
Vane Tempest's, for 3000 guineas. 'Hambletonian' won."

sport Forty Years Ago and To-day 1 9

The diary for 1800 is headed with the philosophical
resolution : —

" Eesolved to live as jollily this New Year as my
purse and constitution will allow, without injuring them."

He was an exceedingly good shot, and very fond of
it, and was the first landowner in his district to stop
trespassing in pursuit of game, thereby incurring, I am
afraid, much odium. No one then thought of stopping
any respectable person from shooting, and my father
used to relate that, when he was a young man, it was
the usual custom to pull up and have a shot at any
covey of partridges that might be observed, when driving
along the road, regardless of what property they were on.
Partridge shooting, of course, was then over pointers or
setters, and indeed there is no reason, certainly in the
north country, why they should not still be shot over
dogs, as far as the total of game killed duriug the season
is concerned. In the south of England it is undoubtedly
different, with the poor covert, large fields, and small
fences that are usually found there. In Yorkshire, how-
ever, there are plenty of hiding-places, with the high
turnips, rape, clover, thick hedges, and tangled ditches
that are everywhere to be found, except on the Wolds.
Once, when a boy, I accompanied my father and a cousin
out shooting, and we did not leave the house till 12.30
P.M. It was in September 1858, the year of the great
comet, and when the bag was counted in the evening,
besides hares and rabbits, the two guns had accounted for
thirty-three and a half brace of partridges. As far as
I can see, the conditions have not changed in the least
since then, excepting that they are noio more favourable
for tlw shooters. The fields are the same, and the hedges

20 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

are the same, but the corn was then mown with the
scythe, which left a much shorter stubble than the
reaping machine does now. With the machine there are
constant patches left of long straw, where the corn has
been " laid," that afford more concealment than the old
stubbles did. In addition, the days of high farming are
over, and the land is far fouler than it used to be. A
farmer was then ashamed to have thistles and nettles
on his land, but now they and the docks often seem
to be the chief crop grown. Though there is no reason,
as far as agriculture is concerned, why pointers and
setters should not still be used, other conditions have
changed, and this is probably the real reason that dogs
have gone out of fashion. How many keepers and how
many owners are there who, if they were given the best
brace of dogs in the world, would know how to set
about working them ? About fourteen years ago, having
some excellent partridge shooting at the foot of the
Hambledon Hills, friends often came to shoot with me
there. Many a time, when asked if he was ready to
start, the guest would say, " Oh, yes ! — but is nobody
else coming ? " Then when told, " No, we are going
to shoot over dogs," the exclamation was quite a common
one, " Dogs ! I have never seen dogs work in my life."
At the end of the day they would agree that a bag
of thirty to forty brace of partridges, for two guns, was
a charming day's sport, and they had also learnt — the
chief pleasure in shooting thus — the cliasse, the covey
gives when broken up, before all the scattered items are
accounted for. Of course, " driving " birds requires
infinitely more skill for the actual shot, but apart from
that, there is nothing else demanded from the shooter.

sport Forty Years Ago and To-day 2 1

as he sits on his shooting seat. The arrangement of
the day has to be thought out, but the carrying of it
out is done by others — the drivers — and whether one
bird, or a hundred are put up, makes no difference to
them, after they have once started. Planning the " drive "
according to the wind, and the known flight of the birds,
placing the butts and the " flankers," requires very close
observation and skill on the part of the person organising
the " drive." When once settled, everything should go
on automatically, if the " drivers " know their business,
and no more planning is required to start the one bird
or the hundred birds on that beat. It is a mere matter
of chance then, as to how many happen to be there at
that particular time. Look how different is shooting
over dogs ! As soon as the covey is broken, each bird
gives occasion for thought and skill ; and human wits,
aided by the dog's keen scent and cleverness, are in each
case pitted against the bird's intelligence. Whether it
has run on, after it has been marked down, has to be
decided by the dog's nose, and he may have to " road "
it in turnings and doublings for 200, or 300 yards,
before he can at last " peg " it down. All that time
the shooter is following close behind, with every nerve
on the qid vive, for fear the bird should make a
successful double, and suddenly get up silently behind,
and escape out of shot. When this bird is accounted for,
dog and gun must hasten back and search for another,
until each one of the whole covey, of mayhap sixteen or
twenty birds, has been dealt with. Then, and not till
then, may the shooter go and look for a fresh covey. In
this way very little ground is disturbed in a day's shooting,
and if there are plenty of birds, with good covert, a manor

22 The Course^ the Camp, the Chase

of only 2000 acres will provide many days, with a fresh
beat each morning. Very many qualities, too, are called
forth, that go to create a sportsman. When the covey is
first flushed, besides selecting for your aim outside birds,
on your flank of the covey, — if possible, the old cock
who rises first, and then the old hen who usually gets
up last, — the number that rise must be rapidly counted,
and the eye be kept on them until they alight. They
will probably have to be flushed a second, and possibly a
third time, before they break up, and ere this happens a
fresh covey may very likely be stumbled upon. The
difference in the number of the birds, and the absence of
old ones, if you have been lucky enough to kill them the
first time, will tell you whether they are the same or
not. If it is a fresh covey, let it alone for the present,
and, picking up any birds you may have shot, go and
look further for the first lot. When this rises and
scatters in every direction, quick eyesight and good
memory are requisite, in order to make rapid mental
notes of the place where each partridge may drop, to
be sought for in succession.

The prevailing fault at first of beginners is that they
want to do the work of the setters. Instead of slowly
sauntering along, or sitting en a gate, if it is preferred,
while the dogs quarter the ground under the direction of
their master, new hands want to hurry after them, and to
walk the birds up themselves. This only distracts the
dog's attention, and instead of helping does very much the
reverse. Birds, until they have been much shot at, very
seldom take much notice of a dog, beyond crouching down.
If the dog points steadily, and does not move forward,
partridges will sit quiet for a long time, and the guns can

sport Forty Years Ago and To-day 23

come up at their leisure. Another thing to be noted, too,
is that partridges seem to have only one idea in their
heads at a time, and they watch what first alarms them,
taking little notice of anything else. They keep watching
the dog, therefore, and do not notice anyone approaching,
if he comes quietly, until he is close up to them.

Of the other form of partridge shooting, viz., walking
them up in line, I have little to say. It is a poor form of
sport. There is too much noise and hurry. It lacks the
skill in using the gun required in " driving," and the
element of hunting shown in using dogs. It has only
one redeeming point, viz., it has the charm of congenial
society, and — is better than staying indoors.

It is " Society," no doubt, that has brought in the
modern forms of partridge shooting, to the exclusion of
setters. A badly broken pointer is a great nuisance.
Few keepers are good " dog men," while most owners have
other things to do, and have little time for training their
own dogs. It is the fashion of the ordinary sporting
writer to attribute the disuse of setters to the bare-shorn
stubbles ; but, good gracious ! who on earth wants to shoot
partridges solely in stubbles ! ! I don't suppose that at
any time they killed many there, except when they shot
them on the ground as they were feeding, which was
frequently the case in the first half of the last century.
Even at the beginning of this one this was not an unknown
custom. But when once the practice of shooting birds
flying came in fashion, and root crops became common, the
stubbles were sought to find the birds in ; while they were
shot in the turnips or other covert. Even now, scattered
birds will sometimes drop in a stubble field, and lie well
there, but this is not what the sporting writer refers to.

24 The Cotirse, the Camp, the Chase

His idea seems to be that coveys can only be shot in
stubbles — ergo, if a fresh, unbroken covey will not lie there,
dogs can be of no use. Q.E.D. ! !

Another point is that nowadays an owner wants to
shoot at a great many other places, and has little time to
spare for killing his own game. Formerly, in days of
limited facilities for locomotion, the squire had to depend
upon his estate at home for his sport, with perhaps a few
days with his immediate neighbours. They also were in the
same plight, and they wished to make their fun last as
long as possible. They had not a great number of friends
whom they must invite in return for past hospitality ; and
as to shoot properly over dogs there should not be more
than two guns, it just suited the habits of the time. In
these days the host wishes to kill all the birds in one or
two parties and have done with it, and since, in " walking
up " birds, it does not matter in the least how many guns
there are, he is able to give pleasure and make due return
to a great many friends at once. Lastly, there is always
excitement in a crowd, and eight or nine good sportsmen
gathered together are sure to have a merry time if there is
plenty to shoot at, and nothing occurs to mar the pleasure
of the day.

Pointers and setters have therefore fallen into disuse,
and more sociable forms of shooting have become the
fashion. In the southern counties the country is often too
open to make shooting over dogs profitable, and the north
has followed the fashion of the south. Late on in the
season, too, partridges become so wild, and take such long
flights, that pointers and setters can be of little use, so
by one means or another the way has been paved for the
introduction of " driving." To the skilful gunner this is

sport Forty Years Ago and To-day 25

most attractive, and happily it is becoming more and more
the practice, instead of " walking in line " — which latter,
moreover, can only be successfully carried out early in the
season.

A frequently asked question is, " What constitutes
sport ; where does the difference begin between it and
pastime ? " The answer to this seems to be that the former,
to be perfect, consists of the pursuit of a wild creature,
which is absolutely uncontrolled in its movements, and is
in the full possession of its wits. The more the ingenuity
of the pursuer is required to outwit the quarry, the nearer
does that pursuit approach to perfection. For instance,
no one can maintain that the tracking of a wounded bird
with a retriever, however well the dog performs, is on a
par with the " roading " of a pointer or setter after a fresh
running bird. In the first case the poor victim has just
been badly wounded, has suddenly lost its power of flight
(its natural means of escape), is thoroughly frightened, and
cannot possibly devise a plan of action as well as the
comparatively calm mind of the bird that is still in full
possession of its powers. The pigeon hustled into a trap
compares ill with the same pigeon in its wild, rocky, sea-
washed home. The rabbit shaken out of a bag amongst a
crowd of shouting spectators and yelping dogs, without a
hole or other place of safety to run to, is on a very
different footing from an old buck rabbit started by a
terrier, with 200 yards of well-known ground between
himself and his house. The capture of a 50 lb. salmon
swept into a net is quite another thing to the landing of
the same noble fish when it has risen of its own accord
and seized the tempting lure. Sport has no sympathy
with cruelty, though the latter may possibly be inseparable

26 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

from its performance, but a real sportsman ever regrets the
pangs, that he would willingly avoid causing, if possible,
and does his utmost to lessen them.

Lastly, let no one decry any phase of sport because he
takes no interest in it himself. Possibly he lacks the
skill or physical attributes to become an adept ; or he may
never have had the opportunity of learning its ABC, and
has therefore never acquired a taste for it. No one,
however, can fully possess the qualities of a true sports-
man, if he seeks to magnify his own pursuit by belittling
that of another.

Different qualities are required, and in many cases
special gifts, to attain the front rank as a performer in the
various branches of sport. There are some, however, that
are needed in all ; and no one can ever hope to achieve
success unless he possesses in an eminent degree observation,
energy, patience, calmness, and quick powers of balancing
in the mind the signs noted, and of drawing true deduc-
tions therefrom.

This chapter may be fitly concluded by a quotation
from a letter of one of the Fairfaxes (the ancestors of
my mother) to his mother, when he was a lieutenant in
the Eoyal Navy, and which shows how shooting was
followed two centuries ago. It is dated Plymouth, 28th
October 1690, and contains the following paragraph: —

" My diversion will be to walk into the fields with a
gun."

A few days afterwards Eobert Fairfax was promoted
post-captain, and appointed to the command of the
" Conception."

CHAPTER III.

Eton.

In January 1859 I went to Eton, remaining there until
December 1865, during a momentous period in the history
of the college. Those years witnessed the commencement
of the Volunteer Force, the Beagles, and practically of the
" Eight," as it is now constituted, and marked the beginning
of the epoch of change in the life of an Etonian, that has
since made gigantic strides. It was then still the fashion
for all boys to " shirk " a master, going through the streets
of Eton to the Eafts, though when once arrived at
the river they were again safe " in bounds." Present
Etonians could hardly realise what Eton was in those days,
before the birth of the above three great institutions. At
that time the Eton Eight had no annual race to look for-
ward to, and boys were made members of it for various
reasons, and who had no claim at all on the score of
merit.

Sometimes they got into the Eight because they were
popular boys in the Sixth Form, the cricket, or other
eleven, who could pull a fairly good oar ; and it was not
till the advent of Dr. Warre, as a lower master, that this
was all altered. When he took the Eight in hand,
dire was the dismay and discontent amongst those who
had hitherto mismanaged matters to their hearts' content.
After Dr. "Warre received permission to train the Eight and

28 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

take it to Henley, there was a great reaction in his favour
throughout the School, which culminated with the first
victory for the Ladies' Plate at Henley Eegatta. By the
way, on one occasion when returning from Henley, an
accident occurred to the train that might very easily have
been a most serious one. We were approaching Twyford
Junction, and, having an idea that we were to change
there, and the pace appearing very great considering how
close we were to the station, I got up and looked out of
the window. It was a fortunate move, for there was just
time to see that we were going straight into the station-
master's house, and to call out to the others in the
compartment to be prepared for the shock. Fortunately
an empty horse-box took the edge off the speed of the
engine, but the latter was still able to break the powerful
buffers of the permanent "stops," and then to crash through
the wall of the house, where it lay on its side, having
fallen through the floor. There it lay puffing, panting,
and steaming, with the big wheels going futilely round,
while the enginemen in vain tried to get at the machinery
to arrest the action, which seemed as if it would go on for
ever. The horse-box had been reduced to small splinters,
the buffers of the carriages in the forepart of the train
were broken, and some of the occupants were badly hurt.
None, however, of those in our carriage were injured,
though all who were sitting with their backs to the
engine were violently thrown into the laps of those sitting
opposite, in spite of having been well prepared for the
coming crash. The cause of the accident was stated to be
that the engine-driver mistook his orders, and thought
that he was to run through the station, as he had done on
the down journey, instead of going into the siding. He

Eton 29

was unaccustomed to the route, having been sent that
morning for the first time with the special train, which he
was then taking back.

What Dr. Warre has done for Eton few can tell, and
only those who were there in that early period can guess.
Not only did he coach the Eight and reform the whole
tone of the boating on the river, but he also threw himself
into the Volunteer Movement, and worked hard at training
the shooting team. They were shortly rewarded by winning
both the Ashburton Shield and the Spencer Cup in the
Public Schools' Competition at Wimbledon.

I was very unfortunate in my fag-master during my
first half. As a rule fag-masters were kind to their fags,
and did not exact much service from them beyond making
tea, preparing a few pieces of toast, frying eggs and bacon,
or some similar kind of dish, and as soon as this had been
done the fags were dismissed. I fagged with two others
for a mess composed of three — my own particular master
and two others, one of whom afterwards rowed in the
Eton and Oxford Eights, and on several occasions stood
between me and the bully for whom I fagged. In those
days we had nothing to eat before going to early school, and
immediately on coming out, at 8 a.m., the fags had to repair
to their masters' rooms. At 9.30 a.m. I had to be at my
tutor's for "pupil-room," and my fag-master would constantly
take out his watch and keep me waiting there until there
was just barely time for me to get to Mr. Dupuis' house
in Weston's Yard, knowing full well that I should get
nothing to eat until dinner at 2 p.m. Sometimes I have
been half fainting for want of food in the raw winter
mornings, for I went from pupil -room straight into
"School," from which we did not come out till 11.45 A.M.,

30 The Course, the Camp, the Chase.

and then there was pupil-room again till nearly dinner
time. Whilst keeping me waiting, " X " would amuse
himself by " spanking " us with hair brushes, generally
using the bristles side, or with a cane, and varied the
performance by making us do the same to each other,
till we could not help bursting into tears from pain,
hard as we tried not to do so. When, however,
" P " was present, he would not allow this bullying
to go on, and frequently spoke to the others about it.
One day, however, " X's " ingenuity devised a new
torture, that very nearly put an end to my career alto-
gether. This was to pour boiling tea down our throats,
because there happened to be " blacks " in his cup. We
were told to stand together, and he commenced with me.
To this day I remember the shock that seemed to strike
me as I swallowed a mouthful of the boiling liquid, for
the water had only just been poured into the teapot.
Something seemed to be pressing me into the ground from
the crown of my head. I felt perfectly dazed, and
turning, staggered out of the room with only one idea — to
get to my own room, if possible, and lie down. Before I
had gone three or four steps " X " ran after me and
carried me back, and then got thoroughly frightened, for
I could only gasp, and was utterly unable to answer, or
even grasp the questions that he asked me one after the
other. I did not feel any pain after the first acute
sensation, but only felt thoroughly stunned, as if I could
do nothing but lie down and be quiet ; and the only words
that I really distinguished, and which fixed themselves
into my memory, was " P " saying, " What an infernal
shame. What a d — d bully you are. Poor little
chap." Finally, I got downstairs, and even managed

Eton 3 1

to get to school, without anyone finding out ; but all my
life since I have sujEfered from a delicate throat, which has
constantly required great care. My eldest brother, who
shared my room, and who was only a little boy in the
Fourth Form, when he found out what had happened, most
pluckily went up to " X " and told him what he thought of
him ; and anyone knowing the immense gulf there is
between a little Lower Fourth Form lad and a boy in
Middle Division of Fifth Form, will understand the
admiration I felt at his so doing. I was but eleven
years old at the time, in Lower Greek, in the Lower School,
and it can scarcely be wondered at that I never com-
plained to the authorities, for the schoolboy code of
•'' never peaching " is held the more sacred the younger the
boy. One good result followed, that " X " was too
thoroughly alarmed to bully us any more, and the next
half I fagged for another master.

The Eton beagles grew out of a very small commence-
ment, like most other things. In 1859 a boy in Lower
School, named Edwards, kept a very few hounds with
which he pottered about, and occasionally ran a drag.
The following year Moore, in the Sixth Form, had a rather
more pretentious pack, but it was not till 1861 that it
became a school institution, and subscriptions were
received. In this year J. Chambers, a member of the
Eight, was the master, afterwards so well known as the
winner of the walking race at the championship meeting,
and the perennial umpire of the 'Varsity boat race until
his early lamented death. In 1862 W. Trench, also in
the Eight and the football eleven, became master, and
regular Whips were appointed, these being Schneider, a
member of the Eight, and H. Meysey-Thompson, my

32 The Co7irse, the Camp, the Chase

eldest brother. 1863 saw Honble. F. G. Pelham,
master, who won the School mile, and was second
in the steeplechase. H. Meysey-Thompson was the
first Whip, and won the hurdle race, running third also
in the mile. The second Whip was Griffiths, afterwards
the captain of the boats. In 1864 H. Meysey-Thompson
became master, and won the 3 -mile steeplechase. He should
have also easily won the mile, which was run on the
Dorney Road. He was leading past the Sanatorium, when
a man called Gaffer — one of the " cads " who hung about
the wall doing odd jobs — drove rapidly by in a baker's
cart and purposely turned right across him just before
going under the railway bridge, of course stopping him
altogether. Another competitor, Bering, shot by in the
confusion, and my brother was never able to get through
the crowd of boys, who were running in with the com-
petitors, and had perforce to finish second.

Amongst his other achievements, he afterwards ran
second for the Inter-'Varsity hurdle race. It proved rather
a disastrous race, for part of the course had been newly
turfed, and only one of the competitors had sound, old
grass to run on. This was Jackson, who, though really
far the slowest of the four runners, won the race for
Oxford through the accident of having firm ground to run
on. The paths of the others could easily be traced after
the race, the turf having been torn up by the spikes of the
running shoes, and the course looking more like a newly-
ploughed field, instead of a running ground, excepting the
line of Jackson's hurdles, which remained as smooth as
a bowling-green. The four runners were — C. N. Jackson,
1 ; H. Meysey-Thompson, 2 ; Hildyard, 3 ; R. Fitzherbert,
4. My brother soon afterwards ran second for the hurdle

Eton 2>Z

race at the Championship Meeting, and a little later was
the winner of a rather sensational match at York, Clare
Vyner was entertaining a party at Newby for Thirsk
Eaces, and Mr. " Charlie " i Fox having been considerably
chaffed by some of the guests about his performance in a
race he had been riding, retorted that if they could beat
him on a horse he could beat them on his own
legs, and offered to run any man in the room for
£50. Clare Vyner instantly took him up, saying
he would name someone to beat him, and then named
my brother. Fox had really forgotten that there was a
high-class athlete in the room, but he was too proud
to draw back, and though Vyner offered to let him off the
match he insisted upon going through with it. The race
was run from Buckle's Inn towards York on the Tadcaster
Eoad, and a large number of people came to see it. Lord
Neville — now Marquis of Abergavenny — and the late
Lord Wenlock each brought a coach-load of people, and
there were numerous carriages besides. The race was a
foregone conclusion, and although Mr. Fox was attended
by two professional runners, whom he had engaged to
train him, and ran gallantly in front at a great pace, for
the first three furlongs, the result was never in doubt,
and he was beaten very easily.

The two Whips in the year of my brother's master-
ship of the Eton beagles were Algernon Turnor and
Sandbach, and the trio were succeeded in the following
year by C. S. Newton, master, myself as first Whip, and E.
Eoyds second Whip. Newton was in the Eight ; I won
the Fencing, the 200 yards race, was second in the
hurdle race, and, making the highest score for Eton at

^ The Honble. Charles Lane-Fox, brother of Lord Conyers,
3

34 The Cottrse, the Camp, the Chase

Wimbledon, shot for the Spencer Cup. Whatever chance
that I might have possessed for this trophy, was quite
thrown away for want of food. We left Windsor
before 8 a.m., having had an early breakfast, and after
arriving at Wimbledon went through a long competition
for the Ashburton Shield. This was over about 2 p.m.,
and those who had friends in the camp then went off to
luncheon. I knew no one, nobody looked after me, and
never having seen a camp before I did not know where to
get any food, or how to set about obtaining any. When
the shooting commenced for the Cup at 3.30 I was faint
for want of something to eat, and had quite gone off my
shooting. I have often wondered since how those in
charge of the team could possibly have neglected to look
after the competitor who was to be their champion, and on
whose sole shoulders rested the possibility of winning the
prize for Eton. It was very strange.

I also really won the Long Jump, though I was only
placed third. The nominal winner, T. H. Phipps, fell
prostrate on landing, and so did Oswald, who was placed
second. Of course these jumps should not have been
reckoned, unless the measurements were taken to the
nearest portion of their bodies. Instead of this, the
distance was allowed to be counted to the part furthest
from the take-off, and thus I was beaten, though my jumps
were better than theirs when they stood erect. Even
thus one of my jumps was the longest, for I cleared
18 feet 3 inches, but put my toe on the line when I took
off, so the jump was not allowed. We jumped from a
chalk line, like a cricket crease, in a grass field, and as
there was nothing to jump at but plain grass, it was not
easy to make a great performance. I was offered another

Eton 35

try, but as I had to meet J. H. Eidley in a few minutes
in the 200 yards race, I refused, and besides I claimed to
have won already. The sympathy of the school was
entirely with me, and it was generally thought I was
unfairly dealt with. I won the 200 yards race. Eidley
won the 100 yards race, and the "quarter" at the
Championship Meeting the next two years.

My fellow-whip Eoyds won the steeplechase and mile
in 1865, and afterwards won the four-mile race at the
Inter-'Varsity sports, and also the Championship four
miles. Poor fellow, he met with a fatal accident almost
immediately afterwards amongst the glaciers of the Alps.

A hunting whip was presented to me when appointed
First Whip, which has been my constant companion ever
since. I swam with it in the hunting accident on the
Ure. It has accompanied me in all my wanderings, and
is the only hunting crop I have ever possessed during
the thirty-four years that have lapsed since its pre-
sentation.

Tor the first few years of the " beagles," it was
customary to present a " testimonial " to the Master, and
when it came to my brother's turn, it was decided to
give him a silver hunting-horn ; the money was sub-
scribed, and he was requested to choose one for himself
in London. He did so, and a day was appointed for a
breakfast, at which the formal presentation was to take
place. Suddenly some one suggested that instead of
making a present of the horn, it should instead be
turned into a sort of "badge of ofhce," to be held by
each successive Master during his term of mastership,
and that his name and year should be engraved upon it.
This being a new idea, was received with acclamation,

36 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

and it was in vain pointed out that the money had been
subscribed for a totally different object, and that if an
official horn was desired, a special subscription should be
raised for it. Boys are but children, and argument is
lost upon them. Something fresh is apt to tickle their
imagination to the exclusion of other considerations, and
so, though the breakfast was held, no testimonial was
given for the year 1864.

Two of the most exciting events, that stirred us all
to the highest enthusiasm, were the marriage of their
Eoyal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and
the visit to Eton of the popular hero. Garibaldi. For
weeks before the first event, we all assisted in making
huge quantities of artificial roses, for the immense wreaths
that connected the artificial towers erected over the
streets at Eton. Our excitement was at its height when
the carriage containing the bride and bridegroom passed
through the college for the first time, and we shouted
ourselves hoarse as we ran alongside the carriage, hat in
hand, as far as we were able to accompany it. At any
time it used to be the greatest pleasure to us, if any of
the members of the royal family passed through Eton
for a drive, but our especial favourites were Her Majesty
the Queen and H.RH. the Princess of Wales. There
are no more loyal subjects in the empire than the boys
of Eton College.

When Garibaldi arrived in his well-known red shirt,
he received one of the greatest receptions possible. His
deeds, as reported in the newspapers of the time, had
raised our imaginations to the highest pitch, and we
crowded eagerly round his carriage for the honour of
shaking hands with him. He was extremely pleased.

Eton 37

He stood up, shaking hands vigorously with such numbers
of boys who pressed on, one after the other, that he
must have been glad at last when the ordeal was over.
Had he lived in these days he would probably have
taken the local musie-hall, or some similar place, given
lectures, and made a fortune — Tempora mutanhtr !

In the winter months we often had the pleasure of
seeing the Queen's staghounds pass along, either on their
way to the meet, or returning to their kennels at Ascot.
Charles Davis was the huntsman, and old as he then
was, his remarkably graceful seat, and neat, slim figure,
marked him out as being still an exceptionally fine
horseman. It was quite a red-letter day when the pack
was seen approaching, and we used to rush eagerly to
see them pass. Long may they continue, now that the
opposition to their existence has met with the fate it
deserved. It is very unlikely that a single one of the
thousands who lately appended their signatures so readily
to the protests against the pack had ever hunted with it,
or had the slightest practical knowledge of the conduct
of the pursuit they were so anxious to meddle with.
Their knowledge was but hearsay, either gathered from
the newspapers, or from speeches made by persons as
ignorant as themselves. The greater part, if not all, of
the signatures, were those of old ladies, shop-girls,
domestic servants, post-office employees, even of school
children, — a goodly crew, forsooth, to decide upon the
merits or demerits of the case. Horace's advice, " Ne
sutor ultra crc^ndam," is as much wanted now as it was
at the time when he penned it so many centuries ago.

There were boys at Eton at that time destined to
become very famous in after life, and amongst them were

38 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Mr. Arthur Balfour and Lord Eandolph Churchill. The
latter did not show any remarkable promise, being chiefly
distinguished for not caring whom he " cheeked," whether
it was a bigger boy or a master. If he saw the opportunity
of saying something smart, he did not lose it through
shyness — or fear of the consequences. Another very dis-
tinguished Etonian of that epoch is Dr. Hubert Parry, who
was at Mr. Evans's house with me. We always expected
him to turn out a great musician. He was ever composing
songs, even in those days, and took his degree in music
before he left Eton. He played a very prominent part
in the House football eleven, helping us to win the
football cup for " My Dame's " in 1865.

That famous athlete and sculptor, Mr. C. B. Lawes, was
also then at Eton. He succeeded in winning nearly every
athletic prize to be got there, in rowing and running ; and,
after being Captain of the Boats, passed on to Cambridge,
where he was stroke of the 'Varsity Eight, also winning the
half-mile, mile, and two-mile races. He was the first
champion mile winner, and secured both the Diamond
Sculls at Henley and the Wingfield Sculls on the Thames.
He was born in 1843, and now, in his fifty-sixth year, has
actually broken the records in cycle racing, for both the
flying quarter of a mile and the flying mile. The
" laudatores temporis acti " have indeed something this time
to boast of, in Mr. Lawes' marvellous achievement.

Mr. F. G. Hobson was at " Joynes's," and became one
of the band of first-rate gentlemen-riders who have hailed
from Eton, and set the seal on his fame by winning the
Liverpool Steeplechase on "Austerlitz." His example was
subsequently followed by poor " Eoddy " Owen, whose
death, from cholera in the Soudan, brought such genuine

Eton 39

sorrow to his many friends and comrades at home and
abroad ; and who did such good work soldiering in Africa
and India, after he had gained the object of his ambition,
in winning the " Liverpool " on " Father O'Flynn," The
fame of the " Lytteltons," in cricket, has been world-wide ;
in rowing, " Willan," "Tinne," and " Goldie," are still
names to conjure with ; whilst Lord Eathdonnell (Tom
Bunbury) was scarcely, if at all, inferior to them. In
politics, besides Lord Eandolph Churchill, the name of
Lord Eosebery is a tower of strength. He was extra-
ordinarily clever, and most amusing. In " Pop," the Eton
Debating Society, we used to look eagerly forward to his
speeches, which were full of sparkle, and a great contrast
to those generally made by other speakers. It was his
wont, when practicable, to speak towards the end of the
debate, and to cut up and criticise, in a very scathing
manner, the most prominent of his opponents. Excellently
well used he to perform this operation. He was fond of
shooting in the holidays, and came sometimes to Auchna-
free, in Perthshire, which fine grouse moor was then rented
by my father. At Kirby Hall, in a place of honour, is a
beautifully pied stuffed grouse, that was fired at simul-
taneously by Lord Eosebery, my father, and myself, it
having attracted the attention and the aim of each of
us as it rose with a brood, on the 12th August 1866.

Lord Eosebery was also the first competitor I drew,
when fencing for the prize in 1865, which I finally won.
He was a most dashing beginner, and gave, at first, con-
siderable trouble in repelling his attack, but he tired with
the rapidity with which he made his thrusts. I had
worked very hard to win this competition, and, no doubt,
was in excellent condition. On the very first night, when

40 The Cozirse, the Camp, the Chase

I entered Angelo's School-at-Arms, old Mr. Angelo took
me in hand himself, as no other master was disengaged at
the moment. Mr. Angelo was very fond of a little " tour
dc force " — the trick of disarming your opponent — which
is very easy, if he happens to be a beginner or is careless.
The trick consists of manoeuvring your own blade until
you get it exactly on the opposite side of your opponent's
foil, to where the tips of his fingers meet the ball of the
thumb. A very slight effort then knocks the handle of
his weapon out of his grasp. As I had never in my life
had a foil in my hand before, Angelo very soon was able
to put his favourite trick into practice, but instead of the
foil flying out of my hand, as he had expected, my wrist
gave to his jerk, and I still retained my weapon.
" Hulloh," said he, " you have a wrist ! You are worth
teaching. Now I shall teach you myself, and you shall
win the fencing." He took great pains with me after
that, and so did his chief instructor, that beautiful fencer,
Mr. M'Turk. After I left Eton — and, indeed, before it —
I was most kindly given " free run " of the School-at-Arms
in St. James's Street, and for two or three years I con-
stantly attended there in the summer; but the exigencies
of the service then took me away from London. My old
friends, too, Angelo and M'Turk, had died, and I knew the
place no more. I learned to beat my opponents by com-
bining attacks. After a little loose play, to get an insight
into the other's method, I commenced on a settled plan. I
tried one attack, which was probably guarded against ; after
a little more play, I returned to the same attack, but the
instant it was met I instantaneously added another. If
this was again guarded, in a short time I repeated the two
previous attacks and added a third. This was almost

Eton 4 1

always fatal, but I never knew anyone who could defend
a fourth — even M'Turk himself could not do so. By
working on this system, the brain, knowing what it was
going to perform, could direct the hand with marvellous
rapidity. I combined the different attacks quite by chance,
as the fancy took me at the time, so that no opponent
could learn especially to guard against them. Each day
they would begin differently, and succeed each other
differently. I never forgot, however, at any time what
movement I had commenced with, or with what others I
had followed it up. To gain complete command of my wrist,
I pinned on the wall of my room a small piece of paper,
with a small circle, the size of half-a-crown, figured upon
it. I also had another piece of paper, with a very tiny
target on it. Every time I went into the room — perhaps
a dozen times a day — I took up a foil and practised feints
and rapid thrusts at the figure on the paper, till the point
of the foil never worked outside that small circle. Then
putting down the foil, I would take up my rifle and snap
six or eight times at the target, also doing a little position
drill. I was rewarded by winning the fencing, and by
being the best shot of the Eton team at Wimbledon, in the
Public Schools Competition.

My teachers would never allow me to practise
" single-stick " for fear of spoiling my wrist for fencing ;
but my next brother, the late Mr. A. C. Meysey-
Thompson, Q.C., not having naturally quite so supple a
wrist, was allowed to practise both forms of " passage
of arms," and won the first prize in each, the year after
I won the fencing.

There is a very peculiar game of football — played,
I believe, at Eton alone — called the "Wall Game," at

42 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

which goals are almost unknown, and one of the most
triumphant moments of my life was when I once kicked
a goal at the " tree " end. It was only in a small
match. My usual place was " flying man " or " short
behind," and on many occasions did I have a try to hit
the " tree " or the " door " which constitute the respective
goals at either end. There was never any time to take
a steady kick, for the " bully " was always very close ;
and whenever the ball did come out, my usual experi-
ence was that I kicked the ball, and somebody else
kicked me, which invariably resulted in my falling on
to the flat of my back. On the occasion referred to,
we were so far away from the tree end that, though I
had more time than usual, I thought it useless to try
for a goal, and kicked simply in that direction, without
taking any particular aim. It is always the unexpected
that happens, however. Away the ball sped, and I think
that our opponents were almost as pleased as we were
to see the ball hit the tree, for it was the only oppor-
tunity most of us ever had of seeing a goal obtained
in a match at the wall. It was a glorious moment,
although the pleasure of anticipation had been wanting !

CHAPTER IV.

Artfulness and Art.

There was a quiet boy at Evans's, who did not take
much part in games, and who was not particularly
studious — 'from the master's point of view — but who
was an exceedingly clever mechanic, and devoted to
fishing. His great delight was to drive the engines
between Windsor and Slough, and he had copies of
every detail of every one of them ; all beautifully drawn
to scale by himself. He made more than one small
engine, entirely by himself in his play-time, at the
local ironmonger's shop ; one, at anyrate, being just
large enough to take him as passenger up and down the
garden walks. Neville was so keen, too, about fishing,
that he used to get up very early in the morning, and
effect an exit from the house, to try for trout near the
master's bathing place, below Windsor Lock, and he
caught a considerable number from time to time. He
was always back in his place in school at 6.45 a.m.
On one occasion he wrote to the late Frank Buckland
and asked him to give an Eton Boy some eyed trout
ova, and the former most good-naturedly sent him 200.
These were placed in a tooth-brush dish, close to
the window, and a suificient change of water was
obtained by having a tumblerful of water above the
dish, from which depended some lamp-wick, that, acting

44 The Course^ the Camp, the Chase

on the principle of a syphon, kept up a constant drip.
Some more lamp-wick at the other end of the dish
carried off the overflow into a tumbler below. The
whole of the apparatus was balanced on nails driven
into the wall.

A considerable number of the ova hatched out suc-
cessfully ; and about the time when the umbilical bag
was absorbed, they were transferred to a water-tight
fern-case, placed on the window-sill. A more pretentious
current was now required, which was effected by placing
a tin bath on the top of the bed, to act as a reservoir,
and " a stream " was obtained by adding some india-
rubber tubing, with a tap to control the supply; some
more tubing carried the waste water out of the window.
The fern-case was made to resemble a natural pool, with
little grottoes of stone, a gravel bed, and a few water
plants, and very healthy the troutlings were. It was
wonderful at what a pace they grew — but then we
stuffed them with food ! As the fish increased in size,
they had to be weeded out, until at last only about
twelve or sixteen were left ; the largest of them being
at the end of the half as long as a " middle finger," and
all being beautifully marked with crimson spots.

They were an endless source of amusement to us,
and a great deal of knowledge of the habits of trout
was gained by watching their movements. It was inter-
esting to see how they came out into the current from
their hiding-places as soon as ever the tap was turned on,
just for all the world as, when a mill is set going, their
bigger relatives sail out into the mill-stream, and com-
mence to feed. In their earliest days they were chiefly
supplied with the roe of soles, obtained from the fish-

Artfitlness and Art 45

monger, and the tiny ova just suited the wee fish. As
they got larger they required other food, which was
supplied by getting caddis from the Thames, flies, tiny
worms, and, as they grew still bigger, very young fish
of various descriptions. At one time we got a quantity
of perch spawn from the river, which was duly hatched
out in a " gold-fish " bowl ; and the perch-fry was then
given to the trout. It was a noteworthy circumstance
that after they had gorged themselves on flies, until
their little bodies resembled those of well-fed city
aldermen, they would still manage to stow away some
caddis ; and then, when they looked as if they must
burst if they swallowed anything more, they would yet
chase and manage to get down a tiny perch or minnow.
If, however, the diet was reversed, and the dinner began
with fish, as soon as they had had enough of them they
would look at no other kind of food. It was an in-
structive lesson, that I have since often turned to good
account. JSTeville took the " survivors of the fittest "
home with him, and turned them into a pond. The
next summer the pond was netted to see how they
had progressed, and our " monster " of the fern-case
had grown into a goodly trout, nearly one and a half
pounds in weight.

I once saw a magnificent trout caught by a gentleman
on the bank of the river, opposite " Middle Club " in the
playing fields. We were only practising cricket, and all
stopped to watch the contest between man and fish. He
landed it at last, and very kindly brought it over in the
well of the punt, that we might see it. It weighed
between 8 lb. and 9 lb., and was caught on a red palmer.
It does seem a shame that so many magnificent trout are

46 The CoM7'-se, the Camp, the Chase

yearly caught by the unsportsmanlike device of a live bait.
All fishing for them should be restricted to "fly" or
" spinning," and if an angler is not sufficiently skilful to
catch them thus, should he not leave them for better fisher-
men than himself ?

In the world of art there is one name that must not
be forgotten, the famous painter, Mr. A. Stuart Wortley.
His pictures of grouse-driving and moorland scenery were
quite a revelation when they were first exhibited ; and,
though he has since had many imitators, he still remains
unsurpassed in depicting the poetry and glamour of the
wild scenery, which makes the pursuit of grouse so
unspeakably charming. It is seldom that such an
exponent of the art of shooting, so thoroughly versed, too,
in all the details of the management of a " drive," combines
the power of placing his knowledge upon canvas. In this
happy instance the pictures afford universal pleasure, for
the eye of the art critic is equally charmed with that of
the sportsman, his painting being assuredly correct
in every detail. Artists without knowledge of their
subject are too prone to make some glaring error that
offends the sense of the expert ; while, when the positions
are reversed, the sportsman only succeeds in producing
what the artist too truly designates a miserable daub.
May Eton soon send forth another worthy to follow in the
footsteps of Mr, Stuart Wortley ! There is room enough
for several.

An honour was once accorded to me that I am afraid
was unmerited. On Jenny Lind most good-naturedly
coming to sing at a village concert, got up by the Eev.
Stephen Hawtrey, for his school near Windsor, I was
invited to sing in a duet with her, and the fact has been a

Artfulness and Art 47

very pleasant memory ever since. I must have been very
small at the time, for, as I stood by her, holding one sheet
of the piece of music, I remember that she seemed to
tower above me, and I fancied she must be very tall
indeed. As such I continued to think of her, until, going
round Madame Tussaud's wax-works one day, I suddenly
came upon the effigy of the famous prima donna, and it
was with quite a shock that I discovered how very small
in stature she really was. I fear that the difference
between her real height and that of my imagination about
accords with our respective parts on the occasion of the
duet.

In our time the greatest honour that Eton could
bestow was to be elected a member of " Pop." Nominally
a debating society, it really was a most exclusive club, and
was limited to twenty-eight members. No one had a
chance of being elected to it unless they were distinguished
in some way or other, and were " good fellows into the
bargain." No one, however he excelled in the athletic
world, was considered a " real swell " in school-boy
language unless he was also a member of Pop. It was
the touchstone of excellence, and the election to it the hall-
mark of Eton. Many and many a boy, winner of races,
and a member maybe of one of the various elevens, tried to
win this coveted honour, but in vain. It is a pity that it
has somewhat fallen from its high estate. To be a
" Member of Pop " now no longer carries the distinction
that it formerly did, for by some means or other a rule
seems to have been established that a member of the
" Cricket Eleven " or " Eight " ifso facto becomes a member
of Pop. Formerly he had to stand the chance of an
election, and frequently was black-balled if not thought

48 The Co7crse, the Camp, the Chase

worthy of the honour, though unless he was unpopular he
was almost sure to be elected. It is the way of the world,
however, and the tendency of the day to destroy the
exclusiveness of societies, and to level down as well as to
level up.

Mountjoy, the famous pedestrian, was at one time a
" common object " at Eton, as he was engaged in walking
one of his 1000 mile matches against time. He walked
on the Slough Eoad, and we often accompanied him a
short way. He always seemed to like our company, but
as time progressed he got very weary, and did not care for
much conversation.

One of my early Easter holidays was spent in London,
and we used to go to Allen's Eiding School, in Seymour
Street, to find amusement in jumping-lessons. At that
time the great American horse-tamer, Earey, was perform-
ing there, and the untamable savage " Cruiser " stood in
a loose-box. How Earey ever succeeded in getting his
straps upon him, single-handed, is a marvel to me to this
day, and proved what extraordinary courage and coolness
he must have possessed. When we used to go with his
groom to look at " Cruiser," the man first used to peep
through a hole to see whereabouts in the box the horse
was, and if he was well away from the door the latter was
cautiously opened, and whilst one man advanced with a
pitchfork at the " charge," another took in the food or
water, or whatever was the occasion of the visit. " Cruiser "
would stand sullenly eyeing us, but he knew too well
what pitchforks were made of to try experiments with
them. The men retreated cautiously backwards after their
mission was fulfilled, but the very moment the last portion
of the pitchfork had vanished and the door slammed to.

Artfulness and Art 49

"Cruiser" simultaneously dashed against it, and would
sometimes scream with rage, at the escape of his longed-for
victims, to the accompaniment of a battery of kicks. Still,
in Earey he acknowledged his master, and was perfectly
docile with him, after he had once been thoroughly cowed
by him. Many years afte wards I heard the end — the real
end — of " Cruiser," which is not generally known, I believe.
A party of Americans came to Gibraltar whilst I was
quartered there, and some of them dined at The Kifle
Brigade Mess. I soon found I had a subject in common
with the guest who sat next to me, and in the course of a
conversation about horses the names of Earey and " Cruiser "
happened to crop up. He then related to me the following
story, a very characteristic one, of the cuteness of our
cousins over the water : —

He said that he had formed one of a small syndicate
that bought " Cruiser," when Earey had finished with him,
with the object of " showing " him round the States, as
the horse so inseparably connected with Earey's greatest
achievements. They had a specially strong padded-box
for him on the ship, and crowds of people came on board
at Liverpool to take a last look at the horse, before he
left England for ever. They took out also another quiet
stallion, who had run rather well, who only needed an
ordinary box, but no one paid any attention to him, all
the gape-seed being expended on the savage in the strong
box, which had his name painted on it in large letters.
They were unlucky in their voyage, as they soon met
with such a storm that the captain ordered both the
boxes to be thrown overboard. He, however, yielded at
last to their entreaties, and only the quiet horse was
sacrificed, " Cruiser " being saved from the same fate at
4

50 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

considerable risk. On arriving in America, they made a
tour with the horse, who everywhere drew the crowds
they desired, but much disappointment was sometimes
evinced that the horse was so much quieter than they
had been led to expect. " I guess," said my informant,
" it kinder seemed as if the horses had somehow got into
the wrong boxes at Liverpool, and that ' Cruiser ' had
gone to the bottom after all." He further told me that
they had been a long time before they had been able to
meet with another horse resembling " Cruiser " in appear-
ance, and that they had been most lucky in getting one
so like, that even those who knew them scarcely could
tell one from the other. I asked him how he managed to
satisfy those who were too curious about the supposed
" Cruiser's " docility, and he answered that he always put
it to them that it was the result of the extraordinary
powers of taming, by one " of their own fellow-country-
men," and that no other nation on earth could have
produced a man to have achieved the same. This bit
of bunkum, he said, appealed to their national pride, and
invariably satisfied them.

In nothing, not even shooting, has the public taste
been more educated than in fishing. In my boyhood
there was only about one angler where there are thousands
now, and every available place has, perforce, to be strictly
preserved. A rather impudent letter was written a short
time ago to a friend of mine, the writer mentioning that
he was the secretary of a fishing club, which numbered
nearly two thousand members. My friend has some
ornamental water, partly in his park, and partly in his
pleasure-grounds, which is stocked with coarse fish. After
mentioning who he was, the writer proceeded to state

]

Artfulness and Art 51

"that his club had selected this water on which to hold
their annual competition, and that they had fixed the
following Wednesday for the day. Thanking him in
anticipation, he begged to remain, etc. etc." Fancy the
relics that would have remained — the broken bottles, sand-
wich papers, etc. ! and imagine the vision of two thousand
anglers on camp stools, amongst all the pet ferns and
ornamental bushes ! ! My friend begged to decline the
proposed honour, and no doubt was held up to the
" execration of all true anglers " at the next club
dinner !

There is one great feature of fishing — that it seems
still to enthral its votaries, after increasing old age has
caused other pursuits to be relinquished. Eyesight may
have considerably failed, obliging a man to give up
shooting, but even if he cannot see a trout rise, as of
yore, he can still sit in a boat and derive pleasure from
catching fish with a spinning-bait, or the more homely
float-tackle and worm. An old friend in Ireland, Mr.
Eeynell — the brother of the popular Sam Eeynell, of
Meath fame — used to be rowed in his boat, on Lough
Derravaragh, when past the age of eighty, from the first
day of the fishing season until its close, and never missed
a day if he could help it. He enjoyed the excitement
of catching the great lake trout, pike, and perch, which
he caught trolling, with all the zest of his younger days.
I met another old friend one boisterous day, fly-rod in
hand, on the banks of the Derwent in Yorkshire. When
I expressed surprise at finding him out in such cold, harsh
weather, he replied, " I don't think I shall take any harm.
It is my birthday next week, and then I shall be seventy-
four. I shall not be able to go on much longer, so I never

52 TJie Cotirse, the Camp, the Chase

miss a day now." That was twelve years ago, and the
fly-rod, alas, has had to be relinquished, but my old
friend is still in possession of excellent health, thanks,
no doubt, to the outdoor pursuits that he always vigor-
ously followed.

It is a popular idea that no one ever forgets the
catching of their first salmon. I only know that mine
did not give me half the pleasurable excitement that
the capture of the first little burn troutie did. In 1858
my father had a charming moor in Durham lent to him,
and great were the preparations made by the younger
members of the family for their first campaign against
the trout.

We had none of us ever seen a trout alive, and were
perfectly ignorant of how to set about catching them,
though we had caught coarse fish all our short lives.
The head-keeper, however, was an " artist " in fishing,
and soon overhauled our tackle on the evening we
arrived. We went to bed almost too excited to sleep,
and with much jealousy as to who would be lucky
enough to catch the first fish. The next morning was
sunny and hot, and not at all an ideal day for fishing,
bvit our little burn meandered through a very wooded
valley, where there was plenty of shade, so the rays of
the sun were not so harmful as they would have been,
if there had been no covert. At all times, too, those
trout are the keenest to take that I have ever met, and
no matter what the weather is, no angler ever returns
home from the burn without having been rewarded, if
he is at all skilful.

On this occasion Webster, the keeper, took a party
of eager children to the stream, halting us about 20 yards

Artfulness and Art 53

from it, and cautioning us not to show ourselves, while he
proceeded to bait the hooks. Seeing that my turn was
not likely to come for some time, and being very anxious
to begin, I proceeded to put on a worm for myself, and
was hurrying down to a spot where there was a tiny
waterfall with a pool below, when I was ordered to leave
it for one of the elders.

Gloomily I stepped to the bank of the stream, not
knowing where to go. I happened to be standing where
the bank was a little raised, with some big stones below,
and almost accidentally I dropped the worm into the
water, letting it be carried along by the current. Just
as it was passing the place where I stood, out dashed a
little trout, which grabbed at the bait, missed it, and
darted back again to the stone it had come from. I at
once forgot my grievances, and with the greatest care,
and trembling with anxiety, dropped the worm in again
exactly as before. Once more, on reaching the same
place, the little trout dashed out, but this time he picked
up the worm, and hurried back with it to the stone. The
next moment he was flying through the air, and alighted in
the very middle of the astonished group, who were still busy
putting on the baits. In default of any other reasons,
I came in for some scolding— -instead of praise — from
the other competitors, for having been in such a hurry
to begin, and I was told " that I ought to have waited,
as they had, till Webster had finished and could show
us where to go." But my trout was safe in my basket,
and I felt so triumphant that I was able to take the
scolding very philosophically.

CHAPTER V.

The Moors.

I HAVE mentioned above that the moor was " lent " to
my father, for in those days so little were English moors
thought of that Mr. Hildyard, the owner, who also hired
a Scotch moor, most kindly would take no rent for it.
The following year, however, my father insisted upon
paying something, so Mr. Hildyard at last consented to
take £100. Now, it would command a high sum if let
for the season. Another famous moor in Yorkshire was
given up about that time as not being worth the £36
per annum for which it was rented. It now, however,
is taken by a syndicate, and over 2000 brace have been
killed on it in a season. No doubt it is " driving "
that has so increased the value of these moors ; the birds
were there formerly, but they could not be got at,
and if the shooting was to be restricted to " over dogs,"
the sporting rights would no doubt fall again to their
original estimate.

On the Durham moor " driving " had been practised
in very early times, though it fell into disuse again for
a short time. Horsley belonged originally to the Bishop
of Durham, and the present " drives " were laid out by
his keeper so long ago as 1803, some of the butts being
in exactly the same state as, when made by him. The
pattern of them is very primitive, being simply a straight

The Moo7's 55

short turf wall, without any " wings," or other later im-
provements, but they are most interesting, as being
probably quite the earliest that were ever constructed.
The Bishop of Durham was one of those Prince Bishops
who ruled over a See as large as a small kingdom, and
reigned over it with almost a regal sway. Colonel Hildyard,
to whom Horsley afterwards belonged, continued to " drive,"
but when his nephew succeeded at his decease in 1854,
the practice was discontinued until the " revival " that
occurred some years later. Horsley seems to have been
a famous sporting place, even in the times of the Eomans,
for quite recently a very perfect altar was unearthed in
the vicinity, the inscription on which states that it was
erected by the Pro-Consul on the occasion of killing a
famous wild boar on these moors.

When we were there pole-cats were still quite common,
and indeed their tracks could be seen in the snow every
winter, in the low country, as far as Kirby Hall. A
keeper on my father's estate captured one in the late
" sixties," and thinking he would improve his strain of
ferrets by a cross with it, he put the strap of a " ferret-
band " round its neck and tied it to the leg of the table
in his bedroom ! The noise it made trying to escape
kept him awake first of all, but at last he fell asleep,
only to find, when he awoke in the morning, that the
pole-cat had bitten through the string, and had then eaten
a hole through the door and escaped.

As there were no hounds that hunted the moors at
Horsley, Mr. Hildyard used to have the foxes caught
alive in a box-trap, and sent down to his other place in
the Bedale country, Hutton Bonville, near Northallerton.
One old dog-fox was thus captured, and sent there no

56 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

less than three times. His " earth " was amongst rocks,
so that he was obliged to come out and be caught, or
be starved inside, for he could not possibly scratch his way
out through the stony face of the cliff. Twice he found
his way back to his old home, but after being sent away
for the third time he returned no more.

There was formerly a very small plantation close to
the Hall, in the park at Kirby, and every year there used
to be a litter of cubs reared there. As it was scarcely a
hundred yards from the windows of the house we saw
them almost daily, and most interesting it was to watch
their antics, running after one another and rolling each
other over, just like so many puppies. In snow-time they
would often come out of the earth about 2 p.m. and play
about before going away to seek for their dinners. One
afternoon whilst we were watching, two that were gambol-
ling about suddenly stopped and apparently held a
conference. One of them then cantered off while the
other went into the plantation and lay down just behind
the hedge, where we could just dimly make out its form.
In about ten minutes' time we descried a hare coming
across the park, more than a quarter of a mile away, and
following behind it came the other fox. The hare went
first of all into a plantation by the stables, but being
driven out of this shelter by her pursuer, she at length was
manoeuvred by it to enter the other plantation, from
whence it never again emerged. We could not actually
see the fox that was in waiting make its spring, but as
the one that was pursuing galloped up at once, as soon as
the hare had gone through the hedge, no doubt it was
aware that its comrade had carried out the programme
correctly. Unfortunately it proved to be too troublesome

The Moors 57

to keep them as such near neighbours, and they had to he
" banished " and obliged to make their earth further off, so
that a most interesting sight was lost.

After shooting at Horsley for two seasons, my father
followed his friend, Mr. Hildyard, into Perthshire, being
further tempted there, as his old college friend, Mr. John
Dundas, the father of the present Marquis of Zetland, also
had the adjoining moor of Glen Quaich. Auchnafree, the
moor my father took, was at the head of Glen Almond,
and besides joining Mr. Dundas's moor, it marched with Mr.
Hildyard's at Corrie Muckloch, so that the three friends
had three adjoining moors which fitted into each other like
a puzzle. It was a very mountainous country, and golden
eagles, peregrine falcons, and ravens were our daily
companions. Mr. Dundas was a great lover of pointers,
which he educated himself and took great pains with.
He crossed his breed with a foxhound strain, to endeavour
to increase their endurance and " staying powers." It
certainly had this effect, and very good dogs they were,
but the experiment had one drawback, the foxhound
cross made them very prone to run hares and rabbits,
and they were difficult to restrain. The most famous
dog Mr. Dundas ever had he took out as a puppy one day
after luncheon, just to shoot a few birds over him. Prince
had never seen a gun fired, although he had been
thoroughly trained up to that stage. It was a triumphant
beginning, as the pair returned in the evening with more
than fifty brace of grouse ! The mountain on which
this feat was performed has now become entirely clothed
with grass, though formerly there was excellent heather
upon it. At Auchnafree, too, a great deal of what used
to be our best grouse ground, all heather, has now become

58 TJie Course, the Cmnp, the Chase

only grass. This is caused by burning " white ground "
when sheep are thick upon the moor. Black peaty soil
may be burned with impunity, for the heather will grow
again, but if " white ground," i.e. loam or gravel, is burned,
and sheep feed there, the grass will come up so
luxuriantly as to partially choke the young heather.
The sheep also being attracted by the grass keep nibbling
the young shoots of the heather, and the latter never
gets a chance of making any growth, so that it gradually
disappears. With the great fall in the value of wool,
sheep farming is not nearly so paying an industry as it
formerly was, and in some cases, where moors are
particularly favourable for grouse, the value of the
shooting may be double the rent of the sheep farm. It
is then wiser to make every effort to preserve the
shooting at its best rather than to sacrifice it for the
sheep, for the area of first-rate grouse ground is very
limited, and from various causes tends to diminish every
year.

A very curious cross — at least it was believed to be
so — was one between a grouse and a hen, that lived with
the rest of the poultry at the farmer's house adjoining the
shooting lodge at Auchnafree. M'Diarmid, the farmer,
felt no doubt on the point, and called attention to the
fact that the bird carried its tail down like a grouse
instead of up like a hen, and it was very dark in colour.
It unfortunately got destroyed before attaining its full
growth, as we intended to present it to the York Museum.

The blue hares were then so numerous that it was
necessary to resort to " driving " them to thin their
numbers, and most charming mixed bags we used to make.
The "stands" were generally on the highest tops, and

The Moors 59

there ptarmigan, dunlin plover, golden plover, and an
occasional grouse used to dash by and vary the monotony
of " toujours lievres." When stationed lower down we
got more grouse and a few black cock. On one notable
day as many as thirteen different kinds of game made a
brave show when displayed on our return home. The
blue hares were exceedingly easy to shoot, but we were
very young boys then and preferred quantity to quality.
Those were still the days of muzzle-loaders, or the bags
would have been much heavier even than they were.
Terribly sore the first joint of the forefinger of the right
hand used to get from ramming down the wadding in such
a hurry, and when the wads ran short all sorts of material
had to be pressed into the service. Bits of paper, moss,
the lining of an old hat, etc., had all to do duty on
occasion, but much of the shooting was at a short distance,
and the gun killed, if held straight, whatever the wadding
might be. The largest score that I ever made in one
" drive" was thirty-six hares, with a little 18 -bore double-
barrel gun by Purdey. A fox came along, scared by the
" drivers," and sat up and looked at me, but although well
within range I could not find it in my heart to shoot him,
although there were no hounds within scores of miles,
and foxes on a Scotch grouse moor are really nothing else
but " vermin." Blue hares have a curious habit of
standing up on their hind-legs to gain a better view of
any object if they suspect danger, and they will frequently
do so if you are well concealed and give a loud whistle.
This was very tempting to boys, and I fear we often
whistled loudly ! As the hares hardly ever leave the
" runs," which are well marked on the Arctic moss on the
high " tops," it was quite an art to select a place of

6o The Course, the Camp, the Chase

concealment within range of as many " runs " as possible,
generally where two or three crossed each other. Strangers
who came to shoot were not always very clever in selecting
the right spot, and chose a convenient resting-place for
themselves instead of noting the trend of the paths, so
that every hare would pass at such a distance as gave
them a long shot instead of a close one ; hares, too, look
much nearer than they really are, as one sees every inch
of them on the moss, so that at first the distance is apt to
be very much miscalculated. Sometimes from these
causes the guests were apt to be a little sore at the end of
a " drive," when we boys, always stationed on the flanks,
produced more hares with our muzzle-loaders than they
did, armed with the newest breech-loaders and placed in
the best situations.

My eldest brother and I once had a very rough ride
at night which, together with other experiences, helps to
confirm my belief that horses see fairly well on the very
darkest of nights. We had ridden two moor ponies over
the hill to fish in Loch Tay, accompanied by one of the
gillies, whose house was on the shore of the lake, and
when we were about to return home Duncan requested
leave to stay for the night, the next day being Sunday.
Thinking that we had daylight enough to reach the boundary
of the moor before it became dark we consented, but before
long a storm burst upon us, and our progress was much
slower than we had expected. As we neared a shepherd's
cottage, not far from the march, it was almost dark, and
the Marquis of Breadalbane having recently erected a wire
deer fence along the boundary, in which was only a small
gate that gave ingress to the Auchnafree Moor, we decided
to seek the aid of the shepherd, for fear we should not

The Moors 6i

find the portal in the gloom. We had just light enough
to reach the cottage, and the shepherd at once started to
guide us, assuring us there would be no difficulty whatever
in finding the way. It was pouring with rain, however,
and had become terribly dark, so dark indeed that it was
quite impossible to detect the form of the man as he led
the pony, or to see my own hand when held up to the
sky. The path lay for some distance along a rocky cliff
above the Almond, which was a raging torrent, and before
we had gone 200 yards from the man's own house we sud-
denly heard him exclaim : " I'm no very sure of the way,"
when at the next step he fell headlong into the river
below. He gathered himself up, however, and succeeded
at last in finding the gate, but nothing would induce him
to come any further. We were left to make the best of
our way home down what was now a rapid stream, though
generally dry, and the only path for some distance over
the moor. We were six miles from home, and except
when coming in the morning, had never been over that
part of the ground before. We left the reins entirely to
the ponies, and, rough as the ground was, being nothing
but a succession of big rocks and waterfalls, neither of the
animals made any mistake, and when we reached the flat
ground at the bottom of the hill they trotted gaily away,
as if it was broad daylight.

Another experience of the faculty possessed by horses
of seeing at night, was once when I was on guard in the
North Camp at Aldershot. We were camped at that time
on Cove Common, and alongside of the Eifle Brigade was
a Battery of Horse Artillery, commanded by Captain
Chichester. Someone in authority objected to heel-ropes,
so all the horses of the battery were simply tied by their

62 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

halters to long ropes, which was the only fastening they
had. A terrific thunderstorm came on, and, frightened by
the peals of thunder and flashes of lightning, the horses
broke one of the ropes, and all galloped right through our
lines. It was so dark that the sentry at the guard-room
door challenged twice as two horses galloped down the
road past him, he being utterly unable to see that they
were only loose horses. When a third horse was heard
also approaching at full speed, the sentry rushed out to
stop him, but this happened to be ridden by an artillery-
man in the pursuit of others, who explained what had
occurred. Yet none of the horses that galloped through
our camp came to grief over the ropes or fell foul
over the tents, though they were invisible to our eyes,
for the rain that was falling in torrents made a
darkness that could almost be felt. I am sure that
though horses may not see as well as habitually
nocturnal animals, yet that they see at night a great
deal better than we can.

On joining the Rifle Brigade I was sent to the depot
at Winchester to wait until my battalion returned from
India. In the autumn before its arrival H.E.H. the Duke
of Cambridge came down to inspect the Eifle Depot, and
on the conclusion of the drill, wishing to light a cigar, he
asked Colonel M'Donald, who commanded, for a light, but
none of the field-oiflcers on parade had one with him.
The colonel accordingly called to the rest of the oflicers as
they were leaving the parade to know if any of us had
one, and happening to have a Vesuvian in the pouch of my
cross-belt, I took it up to the Duke. Having thanked me
for it, he said, " Going on leave my lad, I suppose now,
eh ? " " No, sir," I said, " my leave has just been refused."

The Moors 63

" How is that," said H.li.H., turning to the colonel, who
was looking away, " does he not do his work well." " Oh,
he works well enough," he replied ; and seeing a chance I
chimed in, " Please, sir, my leave has been refused because
I have been made over to another battalion's depot instead
of my own." " I don't understand this," said the Duke,
" if he is entitled to his leave he should have it. Let me
hear about it in the orderly-room." The fact was, that
instead of keeping the officers of each depot intact, and
letting them take leave in turns amongst themselves, a
system had grown up of treating all the depots as one
battalion, and shifting subaltern officers from the depot of
their own battalion to the depot of another, as the com-
manding-otficer pleased. By this arrangement the junior
officers came off badly in the way of leave. It was
important to the officers of the Second Battalion Kifle
Brigade, to which I belonged, to get our leave before the
battalion returned from India, when all those who returned
with it would naturally want to get home, and we should
have to do the duty. Having applied and been refused,
I should never have thought of taking any further steps if
it had not been for the opening afforded by the lucky cigar-
light ; and after the Duke had been to the orderly-room I
received a message, to say I was to send in an application
at once for what leave I required. It was little incidents
like the above that so endeared the Duke to the army ; he
was so thoroughly just, and so patient in investigating
anything that looked like a grievance whether of an officer
or a private. Everyone was willing also to accept his
decision, whichever way it might be, for they felt sure that
there had been a thorough investigation into their case. It
was with universal sorrow that the army heard of H.K.H.'s

64 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

enforced retirement from the post he had so honourably
filled for so many years.

The leave did not last very long, however, when it was
obtained. I had only been a short time at home when a
sudden telegram recalled me to Winchester, to proceed at
once to Devonport, owing to the Bread Eiots that were
occurring in Devonshire. Luckily our services were not
required. The battalion shortly arrived from India, and
it was, indeed, a pity that it was not photographed at
once, for few regiments in the service could have shown
such a display. The ranks were filled with the men who
had gone through the Crimean War and the Indian
Mutiny, some of them also having taken part in the
Boer and Kaffir Wars, and in the Chinese War under
Gordon. There was not a single front-rank man in any
company with less than three medals, most of them had
four, while very few in the rear ranks, — being those who
had only lately joined, — had none. All the men wore
beards, some of them nearly to their waists ; and curious
as it might look now, when no whiskers are worn, at that
time it gave the men a very fine appearance. I regret
so much that I did not make notes of the many thrilling
stories I heard the men relate of their war experiences,
which now have long been forgotten. One sergeant
related how, at the attack on the Malakhoff Tower, he
had just fired his rifle, when he caught sight of a Kussian
standing at a breach made in the wall, who had also just
fired his rifie. Catching each other's eyes, they both
proceeded to load with all the haste they possibly could.
Our sergeant was lying on the ground, and, having loaded
the first, he proceeded to make particularly sure of his
aim, knowing that if he missed he probably would never

The Moors 65

have another chance of firing a rifle again. Just as he
had the Russian well covered, the latter finished his
loading, and, seeing it was his only chance, fired a snap-
shot at the sergeant, hitting him on his left arm as he was
leaning on it, and breaking it in two.

Another sergeant mentioned how he was one day
wandering about the huts, on the chance of finding some
provisions somehow, when he espied a chicken, and though
there were very stringent orders against looting, the prize
was too great a one to be missed, and he essayed to
capture it. He was in full chase when, in turning the
corner of a hut, he almost ran into the very arms of the
General and his staff, who were drawn up in consultation
at the other side. If he had run as fast after the chicken
as he did to get away from it, he averred he should have
secured it without difficulty.

Many interesting stories also have been related to me,
at different times, that now, alas, have passed, with their
narrators, into oblivion for ever. The late Major Brett
won his commission in the Crimea for having done much
good work there, as well as in the Boer War. The
particular act for which he was promoted was that, when
carrying a keg of powder on his back to the front, after
all the transport had broken down, a round shot came and
carried the barrel away, knocking Sergeant Brett over and
badly bruising him. Everyone thought he was killed, but he
picked himself up, and as soon as he got his breath went
back and fetched another keg, as if nothing had happened.

CHAPTER VI.

Sires and Brood Mares.

It was in the autumn of " Hermit's Year " that we went
to Plymouth, and in connection with that world-famous
Derby I had a dream, by which I ought to have profited,
but did not do so. I saw as plainly as possible a chestnut
horse, ridden in a crimson jacket, come away from the
others and win easily, but so utterly hopeless was "Hermit's"
chance considered to be, that none of us ever connected
the winner of the dream with him. There happened to
be another chestnut horse running, also ridden in a red
jacket, and just on the off-chance of my dream coming
true, he carried my small investment. It was with great
chagrin that I saw the vision realised, but by the wrong
horse, as far as I was concerned ! There probably never
was a race in which more people were unwilling winners
than in that Derby. When "Hermit" was supposed to have
gone utterly to the bad, it was perfectly impossible to
hedge any money that had been invested upon him earlier
in the spring, and so many persons most unexpectedly
found themselves winners in the end, as it were, in spite
of themselves ! "Lord Clif den's " sensational St. Leger was
the first that I ever saw, and he was afterwards for many
years at the stud at Moorlands before he was sold to Mr.
Gee, of Dewhurst Lodge. He was a magnificent horse, very
handsome, a bay, with jet-black legs and " hammer-marks "

Sires and Brood Mares 67

all over his quarters. At first he was said to be " coachy,"
but he had great length, with immense reach, and when
he had been at the stud some time, and attained his full
maturity, he lost the rather leggy appearance that he had
when he first came out of training. His son " Hampton "
has carried on this best strain of the famous " Touchstone"
line, and "Ayrshire" now seems destined to keep the breed
still in great prominence.

"Thormanby" was another grand racehorse who also held
court at Moorlands. His celebrated dam, " Alice Haw-
thorn," was foaled not far off, at the old hunting lodge of
James I., now turned into a farmhouse, which stands close
to Blue Bridge, upon the Easingwold road.

" Thormanby " was a splendid specimen of the massive
thoroughbred in its highest form, No one could have
applied the epithet of "coachy" to him. He was built more
upon the lines of the highest type of weight-carrying
hunter, and looked the thorough gentleman that he was, —
a long, low horse, with a beautifully-turned head, neck,
and quarters, and great muscular development. Quite a
different type was " Scottish Chief," a most restless horsej
ever with his head aloft tramping round his box. The
chief points that struck the observer were his very
powerful quarters and immense development of the second
thighs, whilst his shoulders, too, were very good. He was
also extremely lengthy from his hips to his hocks, and
remarkably short from there to the ground ; in fact, his
quarters were fashioned more like a greyhound than those
of any great horse that I can remember.

Two totally different kinds of horses of extraordinary
power were " Knight of the Garter" and " Vanderdecken."
Both of them were over 1 7 hands in height, black browns,

68 The Course^ the Camp, the Chase

and might have carried 1 8 stone to houndS; being " built
that way." They neither of them, however, achieved
much success as stallions, though the " Knights " were
very docile horses, and the line of " Prime Minister " is
valuable as one of the few direct lines from Melbourne.

The sire, however, that got the largest number of
winners was " Speculum," by '•' Vedette," every one of his
stock being able to win some kind of race. He was dark
bay in colour, and an extraordinary stout horse himself,
winning the City and Suburban as a three-year-old, and
running third for the Derby and second for the Ascot
Cup, besides winning the Brighton and Goodwood
Cups. He only sired one Derby winner, " Sefton,"
but his winners were legion, and " Hesper," " Advance,"
" Kaleidoscope," " Castlereagh " (sire of " Why Not,"
winner of the Liverpool Steeplechase, and of " Clorane,"
winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap, under 9 stone, 4 lb.
the heaviest weight ever carried to victory in it), and
" Kosebery " (the first dual winner of the Cfesarewitch and
Cambridgeshire) are only a few names of the great horses
that called him sire. All his stock could jump, too,
and had very hardy constitutions, while he invariably
transmitted to them his great muscular power and his
charming "quality." Though standing 16 hands, he
scarcely looked the height, as he was of the compact
order and very sturdy, while his vigour was extraordinary.
" Crowberry," his grandson, a horse perhaps unlucky to
lose the Derby, has given us already some good horses,
and with him and the flying " Amphion," both sons
of " Eosebery," to represent the line, the name of
" Speculum " seems likely to live in pedigrees for a
long time to come.

Sires and Brood Mares 69

It was rather a noteworthy circumstance that the late
Lord Falmouth never sent any of his splendid mares to
" Speculum," although he had a liking for the Jhorse.
First-rate alliances are half the battle for a stallion, and
if " Speculum " had had mates with such running blood in
their veins, it may have been that his success would have
been still greater than it was. It was remarkable that
though Lord Falmouth never bred a foal from " Speculum,"
he once bought a daughter of his, " Eada," and with her
won the only Goodwood Cup that he ever obtained during
his racing career.

How often stud farms that have great reputations are
not deserving of them — at least have a loose screw
somewhere — is only known to those who are really behind
the scenes. Unless the manager is thoroughly up to his
work in every detail — active, energetic, constantly present,
and ever poking into every nook and corner — men are sure
to become slack. Even with the best intentions, few
servants are capable of looking far ahead and reasoning on
cause and effect. One of the chief reasons why the stud
farm at Moorlands became such a success was that
the management was very careful and efficient, with
commonsense shown in the working of every depart-
ment. No one ever had two more trustworthy, capable
men, to whom he could entrust the carrying out of his
arrangements, than Mr. G. S. Thompson had in the well-
known father and son, Huby, senior and junior. The latter
has now perhaps the most important position at the stud
in the world, having under his charge the breeding
establishment of the Duke of Portland at Welbeck Abbey,
at the head of which are the justly celebrated stallions,
" St. Simon," " Donovan," " Ayrshire," and " St. Serf." The

yo The Course, the Ca7np, the Chase

disappearance of the mysterious disease that so long held
sway, attacking the brood mares and foals, and rendering
the stallions almost sterile, has quite disappeared under John
Huby's intelligent management, and there are no stallions
now more fruitful than the same animals that were such a
failure before he took up the duties of stud groom. His
father, I believe, during almost the whole of the foaling
season never used to go to bed at night, but just took
snatches of rest as occasion served. With all his watch-
fulness he was never " fussy," and to his alertness in
taking the proverbial " stitch-in-time," and knowledge of
the right thing to do at the right time, may be attributed
the very rare occurrence of a fatality happening to a mare
or foal. Experience shows that real " accidents " very
seldom happen, and the cause of those so-called has been
either the carelessness, laziness, or want of judgment on
the part of someone who has neglected to do what he
should have done. It is easy, no doubt, to be wise after
an event, but the thoroughly capable man is wise before
the event, and his price may be said to be above rubies in
any walk of life ! Tested by the touchstone of success or
failure, the standard of " cleverness " is often shown to be
false as awarded by examinations. Though a candidate
may pass every one with brilliancy, in the ordinary affairs
of life he may be the greatest dunce. When nothing
succeeds in his hands can that man be called clever ?
Another may take a poor place in the examination,
and yet everything he takes up is sure to succeed, and
his advice is sought by everyone on every subject. Is not
he really the clever man, and far the superior of the
other ? Occasionally a man is found who can combine
success ill examinations with cleverness in practical life.

Sires and Brood Mares 7 1

and then you have found a diamond of the first water ;
but I fear it is generally the case of the exception proving
the rule !

To show the possibilities that may occur, I will relate
an experience during the latter days of that mismanaged
concern, the old Eawcliffe Stud Company. Two of their
stallions, with the mares and foals, were standing,
for convenience sake, at Fairfield, which was close
by, and then belonged to the executors of the late
Mr. John Jackson, the well-known bookmaker. My
cousin, the late Captain Frederick Thompson, was
living at Poppleton at that time, where he bred that
good but unlucky horse " Eobbie Burns," and we walked
over together one morning to go and see the breeding
stock, but without having intimated that we were coming.
We crossed the Ouse by the railway bridge, and on
entering the first paddock we were startled by finding
the leg of a foal lying on the ground. As we went
through the fields, we saw here and there other limbs,
and portions of dead foals, and were utterly at a loss
to account for such a thing until the manager came up
to us. We at once mentioned what we had seen, when
he coolly remarked, " Oh, yes, I keep a lot of fowls for
' showing,' and the foals when they die, breed a lot of
insects for them. I always have them left for the
chickens ! " No wonder that complaints had been rife
of barren mares, and misfortunes amongst them, and that
breeders fought shy of sending their animals there. The
company was soon afterwards wound up, and the manager's
services were eagerly secured by a new company that had
lately arisen. It need hardly be said that before many
seasons were over, that company also found it necessary

72 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

to wind up its affairs, and many were the theories to
account for its non-success, but after that little experience
at Fairfield, I think the cause might be summed up in
one word — " mismanagement."

There is often much discussion as to whether racing
injures mares for breeding or not, and much can be said on
both sides. Many famous breeders have held that it does
so, while others, equally famous, hold the contrary opinion.
Undoubtedly a prolonged course of training and racing must
be injurious, for, as was pointed out at the end of the last
century by the celebrated breeder. Sir Charles Monck, just
when the fillies should be growing and maturing their
internal organs, every effort is made to subordinate all
other considerations to the excessive development of their
muscles. The late Sir Tatton Sykes was firmly convinced
of the injury resulting from overwork, but he carried it rather
to the other extreme, for in his day many mares at Sledmere,
even eight or nine years old, had never had a bridle on in
their lives. His plan was to keep troops of young horses
together in very large pastures, and the stallions had each
a good-sized paddock, in which they could exercise them-
selves at all times, in all weathers, with a shed to retire
into for shelter, whenever they liked. Certainly in this
practice he was very sound. One of the finest sights I
ever saw was at Sledmere, when a troop of three-year-
olds — there were more than sixty of them — were taken
down a lane to a field, the man in front leading one with a
halter, and the others following behind. When the gate
was opened, the moment they got through they thundered
along at the top of their speed, sometime wheeling, and
again galloping on, very much like the gyrations of a flock
of starlings in the autumn. With manes and tails flying,

Si7''es and Brood Mares J 2)

aud their scarlet nostrils widely distended, it was a sight
to be ever remembered, so picturesque, and yet so full of
life. Still, for the number then bred at Sledmere, the
winners, if numerous, seemed scarcely proportionate,
although undoubtedly the animals nurtured there were
sound, and hardy to a degree. From a racing point of
view, the success could not be compared to that achieved by
the late Lord Falmouth with a stud of mares, very small
indeed in comparison with the huge one at the Yorkshire
Wolds. It was, I believe. Lord Falmouth's theory, that to
get the best results from mares, they should not be raced
for more than two seasons, and though he occasionally kept
an exceptionally good mare in training during her four-
year-old season, he invariably relegated her to the stud at
the end of it. He preferred to try his mares on the race-
course, and to breed from those who came out of the
ordeal successfully, but then his racehorses were never
abused, and they were trained by that prince of trainers,
Matthew Dawson. In thus breeding from mares of proved
merit, his practice accorded with the theory, published by
Count Lehndorf, that it is not wise to breed from any
mare who has not distinguished herself on the racecourse.
This, however, may be undoubtedly carried too far, for Count
Lehndorf appears to think that every thoroughbred mare
in England is trained for racing unless there is something
to prevent it, while in all parts of England and Ireland I
have met with both gentlemen and farmers in possession of
animals of the highest lineage, which have accidentally come
into their hands, that have never been trained. Sometimes
they have bought them at a yearling sale, or perhaps taken
them as a bad debt. There has never been any idea of
racing them, and they have passed their lives — and

74 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

frequently their progeny as well — as hunters, hacks, or
mayhap between the shafts of a dogcart. If the history
of such is accurately known, it would be a mistake not to
breed from them, because of a hard-and-fast rule that they
have not shown winning form on a racecourse. Many an
animal has been rescued from oblivion by the accidental
chance of one of its offspring entering a training stable,
where its merit has been discovered. Then, too, there are
the numerous cases of well-bred mares, that, from some
defect of conformation or for some other good reason,
have been debarred from being trained. When visiting
stud farms I have frequently found that the mare who is
the greatest star of that stud has been untrained from
some cause or other, while mares that have been famous
winners themselves have only produced very moderate
racehorses. Two mares that occur to me are " Suicide,"
who could not be ridden owing to having a deformed hind
leg, but who was the dam of that sterling good horse,
" Amphion " ; and " Auchnafree/' who was unable to be
worked owing to a club foot, and who produced a very
smart horse in " Eobbie Burns." No doubt in this, as in
other things, " Medio tutissimus ibis" and the breeder who
has judgment — backed up by the essential concomitant of
wealth, so that he can afford to follow out his ideas — will
not fail to produce excellent racers.

CHAPTER VII.

Anecdotes of Racehorses.

A VERY beautiful horse, and a far better racehorse than
the public were aware of was " Camballo," who passed his
stud life at Moorlands, but who was not the success as a
sire that he should have been from his appearance and his
merits. Perhaps he was too inbred — by " Cambuscan " by
" Newminster " (by " Touchstone"), out of " Little Lady " by
" Orlando " (by " Touchstone "), as the " Touchstone " line
does not seem to bear inbreeding to itself, especially its
two most delicate lines, of " Newminster " and " Orlando."
These horses were both out of mares that had very hard
work on the turf, and perhaps their constitutions suffered
accordingly. " Camballo " was a lovely, long, low, thick
bay horse, with most perfect quality, a thorough gentle-
man from head to heel, but he lacked one trait that
was conspicuous in " Speculum," and that was energy.
Undoubtedly a stallion must be full of nervous energy if
he is to impart vigour to his stock. The Spaniards used
to have a proverb that " a stallion, a gamecock, and a lover
must have fire," and there is much truth in it. I never
remember a very quiet horse, with the docility of a lady's
hack, producing high-couraged progeny, however good he
may have been himself.

After showing excellent form as a tvv'o-year-old,^ " Cam-
ballo " was tried in the autumn with " Thunder/' then four

76 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

years old, and a winner of seven races that season at a
difference of only 2 1 lb., and " Camballo " won by three
lengths. The following spring, before the Two Thousand
Guineas, the pair were again tried together, this time at
13 lb,, and again "Camballo" won by about the same
distance ; as " Thunder " had just won the Great Warwick-
shire Handicap, he was evidently in " form," and it shows
what a great horse " Camballo " must then have been. He
won the Two Thousand Guineas in a canter, with Johnny
Osborne on his back, and that was the last time he came
to the post fit to run, for on his subsequent appearances
he was far from being up to the mark.

He was coughing badly before the Derby, and had no
business to be on a racecourse at all, but his owner had
made some very big bets, and did not like to let them go
without at least an effort to win them. " Camballo " ran
as might have been expected, and then was sent over
to Paris to run for the Grand Prix, still coughing almost
as badly as ever. He came back and ran again at Ascot,
but of course he was utterly unfit, and after that was sent
to Newby Park in Yorkshire, where he was turned into a
loose box with a yard to it, while " Conductor " was in a
similar one at the back, built originally, I believe, for
fattening two bullocks. I happened to be at Newby in
the following February, riding some of Mr. Vyner's steeple-
chase horses in their work, and one morning when we
were looking at the two horses in their boxes, I asked him
what he intended to do with them. " Run them at
Ascot," he replied. I then asked how long they had been
in the boxes, and he replied, " Since last Ascot," where-
upon I remarked it was an impossibility to get them fit in
the time. He did not think so, and made an endeavour to

Anecdotes of Racehorses y'j

train them for Ascot, but " Camballo " never started
again.

If these horses had been simply turned out into a bare
grass field and allowed to exercise themselves, there would
have been every chance of their being trained in time, but
shut up as they were like fattening bullocks, with every
muscle and sinew in a state of flaccidity, it would have
taken a year at least to get them back into racing trim.

" Conductor," instead of being ready for Ascot, did not
appear on a racecourse until August 9th at Eedcar, when
he ran nowhere, and after starting twice more unsuccess-
fully, also retired to stud life. As a hunter sire, he has
been of the utmost value, having sired innumerable weight-
carrying hunters, who take naturally to jumping, and
boast excellent tempers, though a drawback to their
appearance has generally been a too liberal an allowance
of white. On his first appearance in the Trial Stakes at
Ascot, " Conductor " won, carrying 7 st. 9 lb., being then
three years old. "Thunder" was second with 10 st. 2 lb.,
with several others also behind them, and Mr. Clare Vyner
thought he had made a good bargain when he claimed the
winner for £1000, but the latter never was first past the
judge's box again.

" Thunder," by " Thunderbolt," was a wiry bay horse,
all " whipcord and wire," as the saying is, and was extra-
ordinarily smart, his best performance probably being the
winning the City and Suburban, with the heavy weight of
9 St. 4 lb. from the capital field of twenty-three starters.
No doubt he owed his victory a good deal to the wonderful
nerve and dash of poor Fred Archer, who hugged the rails
at Tottenham corner so closely, that he had to ride with his
left leg on the horse's neck, for fear of coming in contact

78 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

with the posts. After winning seven races in 1874 for his
then owner, Mr. Matthew Dawson, he passed into Mr. Yyner's
hands, and won four races for him in 1875, and six races
in 1876, and yet Mr. C. Vyner was wont to remark that
he was more out of pocket by him than by any other
horse that he ever had, for he had always won when there
was no money on him, and invariably lost when he was
heavily backed. Unfortunately he had but a short career
at the stud, as a very fatal epidemic made its appearance
in Yorkshire, to which both " Thunder " and that grand
mare " Apology " succumbed. The dam of the latter,
" Mandragora " by " Eataplan," out of " Manganese " by
" Birdcatcher," looked for all the world like a rough shoot-
ing pony when seen in her winter dress, being of very low
stature, but with an immense barrel. There was nothing
whatever about her to indicate that she should have pro-
duced such " fliers " as " Napsbury," " Apology," " Agility,"
and " The Miner," the latter being the only horse that
ever had the distinction of beating " Blair Athol." Their
first owner's dignified reply to his bishop's querulous com-
plaint, when he won the St. Leger with " Apology," earned
the approbation of all sensible persons. No remonstrance
was made as to his continuing to race the old family
breed of horses, which he unexpectedly inherited, for some
years, but when at length he won the great Doncaster
race, his diocesan found fault apparently with his winning,
and not with his racing. The old man took him at his
word, and showed that at least he was not ashamed of
what he had done, by resigning the family living and
retaining the family horses. At his death, which occurred
at a ripe old age, Mr. Clare Vyner bought the two mares,
" Agility " and " Apology," and from the former he bred

Anecdotes of Racehorses 79

" Lizzie Lindsay," the dam of " Crowberry," while the
latter became the dam of " Esterling."

Mr. Clare Vyuer was one of the very best judges of
racing I ever met ; he was a very close observer of what
took place in a race or trial, was very clever at weighing
in his mind all the pros and cons, without suffering
himself to be misled through partiality, and formed
very shrewd judgments. On one occasion, when " Iron-
stone " was competing against " Kaleidoscope " — who had
won the Lincolnshire Handicap — at Hampton Court he
said to me, " I just make out that the two horses should
run a dead heat at the weights, but Archer rides for me,
and I think he will beat Wood. I shall have a ' monkey '
on." He did back "Ironstone" for £500, and Archer
just won by a head.

" Ironstone " was a beautiful black horse by " The
Miner," but had not the very best of tempers, and he
was once the innocent cause of my having a very rough
ride indeed on Mr. Vyner's " Trespasser." This was a
very fine chestnut, by " Thormanby," out of " Bumble-
kite," who had lately been taught to jump hurdles, and
as he was fond of jumping, we were told to lead the
others in the gallop. I had never been on his back
before, and just as we were going to start, Viney, who
was then the private trainer to Mr. Vyner, rode up to
me and said : " You had better touch him up with the
spurs before you come at the first hurdle. ' Ironstone '
is very shifty, and if ' Trespasser ' hesitates he will
swerve." We started, and, according to the directions,
I gave " Trespasser " a couple of digs with the spurs, but
the result was certainly startling ! He happened to be
a very free-goer, and the moment he felt the prick of the

So The Course, the Camp, the Chase

spur he became almost wild, and completely ran away
with me. In vain Viney held up his hat as a hint to
stop the pace, and galloped forward shouting, " Steady
him, steady him," for I might as well have tried to steady
a steam-engine witli a bridle. Fortunately he knew the
track, and I was just able to steer him, but I was not
sorry to get to the end of the two miles, by which time
he had steadied down, and was content to be stopped.
Mr. Vyner galloped up to inquire why the horse had
been allowed to come at such a pace, and was not at all
pleased with Viney when he learned the cause. The
latter, I believe, had only given those directions for the
sake of something to say. He was very fond of talking,
and did not always stop to think before speaking, but
he was an excellent trainer.

A fox was in the habit, at that time, of living among
the branches of a very tall elm tree in the park, and as the
stable lads used to amuse themselves by throwing stones
at him he used to get so high up that they could not
reach him. The trunk of the tree was perfectly erect,
and he had nothing whatever to assist him in ascending
except the roughness of the bark, but he was there almost
every day, and took up his quarters in the elm for a long
time.

Fred Archer was always credited with being a very
shrewd judge of everything connected with racehorses,
and yet his usual accurate judgment was at fault when
Mr. Pt. Vyner's great horse "Minting" first went to Matthew
Dawson to be trained as a two-year-old. He was already
16 hands high and very unfurnished, and Archer, when
he gave him his first canter, is reported to have inquired,
" What they had sent this lumbering brute here for." It

A itec dotes of RaceJiorses 8 1

did not take long, however, to make him change his opinion,
and big horse as " Minting " was, he could jump off the
mark as quickly as anything, and was going his best in
a very few strides. When people talk about " Ormonde "
being the " horse of the century," those who are well
acquainted with the history of " Minting " are apt to
be dubious. This much at anyrate may be stated, and
that is, that " Minting " and " Ormonde " never met when
" Minting " was at his best, neither in the Two Thousand
Guineas nor the Prince of Wales' Stake at Ascot, which
were the only two occasions of their meeting each other.
I know which horse would have carried my money if
both had been thoroughly fit and met in a match, with
Fred Archer on the back of " Minting."

When " Minting's " leg so mysteriously filled, and he
was supposed to have broken down, Matthew Dawson
always maintained that it was the effect of a blow, and
not a strain of the sinews. I remember meeting Mr.
Vyner in the train on the way back from Catterick races
in the following spring, when it was still doubtful whether
the leg would stand training again or not. I made the
remark that if the swelling had been caused by a blow
a few white hairs should have appeared on the spot when
the summer coat was assumed, and Mr. Vyner at once
replied, " They have just come there." After that state-
ment I felt certain that the horse could be trained again,
as proved to be the case. The culprit who struck the
blow was subsequently discovered, though no proceedings
were ever taken against him, partly for the want of
sufficient evidence, I believe. He was supposed to have
put a thick bandage round the leg, so that the skin should
not be broken, and then struck it with a hammer.
6

82 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Mr. Vyner's good mare, " Fabiola," the dam of
" Cunctator," and winner herself of many races, used to
have, it was said, one extraordinary peculiarity, and that
was that she never could win unless she was in foal ;
and she never became in foal unless she was in training.
This awkward combination necessitated a constant change
from the racing-stable to the harem, and vice versa. At
one time it used to be considered fatal to a mare's chance
of winning if she had ever been at the stud, and this used
constantly to be told me in the days of my youth. Like
many other superstitions it has been exploded long ago,
and I find I have passed much of my life in discovering
to be fallacies some of the most cherished truths taught to
me in early days.

I was once riding a three-year-old mare, " Sorrus,"
at Southampton in the Welter Eace, which was won by
a mare called "La Sorrentina," ridden by Mr. Arthur
Yates. After the race the trainer of " Sorrus " said to
me, " There now, here's a go ! That mare belonged to
me till the other day, when I found out that she had had
a foal, so I never rested till I got rid of her. I thought
she could never be any good, and here she has come and
beaten us." That was the first rude shock given to that
false belief, which further experience has only confirmed.
In later years I ran a mare — " Camaltha " — in a mile and
three-quarter's race at Derby ; she was third, and was very
fit to run on that occasion. I had a foal from her the
following year, and, after it was weaned, put her into
training again. She was getting very fit, and was entered
for the same race at Derby again, when, unfortunately, she
ran a stake deeply into her chest, exactly seven weeks
before the day of the race. For a whole month she was in

Anecdotes of Race hoi' ses ^-^

a loose box, without being able even to walk out of it, and
exactly three weeks before the race the late Mr. Egremont
Lascelles came to see her. She was in the box, with a
rough unkempt coat, and I said to him, " I am going to
run this mare at Derby to-day three weeks, as she is now
sound again, and she will begin work to-morrow morning."
He stared with astonishment, and replied, " Is it possible ? "
I answered, " Yes, it's possible, and what is more, the
mare will run well." She went on perfectly right, and
I rode her myself, when she ran second after a capital
race, and the horse that had been second when she was
third — and had missed the intervening year — was this
time only third, the places being reversed. I am quite
sure that if I could have had her for four weeks in
training, and three weeks in the box, out of the seven
weeks that had elapsed since the accident, instead of the
longer period in the stable and the shorter time on the
training ground, we should have won. The reason of this
was that she was very tit when the accident happened,
and had no time to get fat in the interval, the pain of the
wound, and the inflammation attending it, also helping
to prevent the accumulation of flesh. It was just long
enough interval, however, to get the muscles and sinews
sufficiently hard to last through the race without col-
lapsing, though it is not pretended for one moment that
she was nearly as fit as she could have been made if she
had had no accident. She afterwards was the winner of
. eight races on the flat.

It was a secret I had learned many years before,
from a remarkably observant trainer, that if a horse
has done plenty of strong work he can be thrown up
entirely for a short period, and if there has not been

84 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

time enough for inside fat to accumulate, he will require
very little galloping before he is again ready to race.
My teacher even occasionally carried out his theory so
far that he would buy a horse that had been much
over-trained, but still showed " form," and throw it up
in a loose box for three weeks — the maximum of time
that he allowed — " to get juice into it," as he phrased
it. He would then put it into training again for another
three or four weeks, and by that time it would show
very great improvement when it was again tried. In
this way he bought " Eose Blush," by " Commotion," who
had won a selling race, at Stockbridge (winner to be
sold for £30), and afterwards the Trial Stakes at
Southampton on 16 th July, when she was sold for the
paltry sum of 65 guineas. He told me what he intended
to do with her, and recommended me to buy her, as
just then I was in want of an animal to take to
Spain. I was very sorry afterwards that I had not
taken his advice, although I had no reason to complain
of the luck that I had with the horse that 1 bought in
preference. " Eose Blush " was very poor in flesh, and
" dried-up " when she was bought, but after three weeks'
rest in a loose box, where I saw her daily, without her
shoes, and fed with plenty of grass, she had got quite
loose in her skin, and must have been at least two stones
heavier in weight. After a few gallops she was taken
to Plymouth, and on the 25 th August ran third in the
Tradesman's Plate of one mile, and later in the after-
noon won the Hurdle Eace Handicap of one and a half
miles. The next day she won the Plymouth Plate of
one mile by a length, and on the same afternoon another
handicap hurdle race, one and a half miles, by a head.

Anecdotes of Racehorses 85

She ran once more that autumn, fourteen days after-
wards, when she won the Borough Members' Handicap,
one and a quarter miles, at Tiverton. This was an
extraordinary instance of what judicious management
could do, and few trainers would have dared to throw-
up a horse for three weeks, within less than five weeks
of running, and with only ten days remaining in which
to gallop her again, and yet in two days she secured
three races, and finished third in a fourth.

In the following spring she ran but once before
going to the stud. She was then seven years old, and
though she had been running in many races, ever since
she was three years, yet her last performance was de-
cidedly the best in her whole career. Starting in the
Metropolitan Handicap at Epsom, she finished third,
carrying 6 st. 11 lb., the race being won by that good
horse " Hampton," three years, 6 st. 3 lb. ; " Templebar,"
three years, 5 st. 12 lb., being second; while unplaced
were those grand stayers, " Trent," " Scamp," and " Bugle
March," with four others of less celebrity. This was
rising to a very much higher level than selling races,
" winner to be sold for 30 guineas ! "

I can give yet another instance of how short a pre-
paration may suffice to bring a horse out at his very
best, after being eased in his work when getting stale.
During my absence at the Ashanti War, in 1873-74, a
horse of mine, " Fortal," had done a very great deal of
work, he being a very hot-headed animal, very difficult
to catch at his best. I returned to England on the
26th March, and after giving the horse only one six-
furlong gallop every other day — when he always ran away
from start to finish — I won a Hunter's two-mile hurdle

86 TJie Cottrse, the Camp, the Chase

race on him at Abbotstone Down, on 25th April. I
then threw him out of fast work, riding him quietly
every day on parade as Adjutant of the Eifle Brigade,
for I did not intend to run him again that summer.
One evening, however, when travelling by railway, I noticed
in BdVs Life, that I should be eligible to run him for
the hurdle race at the Aldershot Summer Meeting, and
finding that there were still exactly three weeks in
which to train the horse, I resolved to have a try for
the race. Pursuing the same tactics as before, the horse
was galloped six furlongs every other day, occasionally
jumping a few hurdles instead of doing all his work on
the flat ; and on the days he did not gallop, I continued
to ride him on parade. All horses get to like parade
work, and wild as he was on other occasions, he was a
charming charger, never pulling at all, but cantering down
the line and taking up positions as if he had done
nothing else all his life. Only once was he allowed to
exceed his six-furlong gallop, and then I took him to
Winchester racecourse, and let him cover the full dis-
tance of two miles. He used to be so fretful when
going to gallop that I always walked by his side till
nearing the place of starting, and then got on to his
back, while I took the precaution of never starting him
twice from the same identical place, so that he never
quite knew when he was going to be jumped off.

It was a very good field of horses that came to the
post, there being eight starters, seven of whom were
winners that season, and my hopes fell when I first read
the list of entries. We had to jump a hurdle in the
canter, opposite to the stand, so I sent his lad some distance
to the other side of it, and the moment I could get him

Anecdotes of Racehorses 87

steadied I jumped off, handed him over to the lad, and
walked down to the starting post, to which he was led.
When all were assembled I remounted, and the moment
I joined the others the flag fell, and we were off.
" Fortal " was many lengths ahead at the first hurdle,
and was fairly running away, but the moment we were
over and had gained a lead of some thirty yards, I
pursued a method I had used with him before, and which
was again successful. This was to sit down in my saddle
and speak to him as if going to pull up, at the
same time completely loosening the reins. As soon as
ever he found nothing to pull at he would slacken his
speed of his own accord, unless another horse got too
near him, when he would at once start off again as wild
as ever. On approaching a hurdle, it was necessary to
take tighter hold of the reins, or he would gallop into
them, and he was not a very comfortable mount, for he
judged his distance badly, trusting to his immense leaping
powers to get over safely. One time he would take off
far too soon, and almost laud on the top of the fence ;
while perhaps at the next one he would get too close,
and then go flying into space. It seemed, sometimes,
as if he must catch his knees as he rose to the jump
from being so near to it before he made his spring. I
several times measured the distance that he covered
when practising, and found that he usually cleared from
27 ft. to 30 ft. over the first few hurdles. By loosen-
ing the reins again after landing, he was coaxed into
galloping at a steadier pace, and we won both of the
two hurdle races in which I rode him. Nothing ever
got near me in this Aldershot race until rising the
hill on the Queen's Parade, about a quarter of a mile

88 TJie Course, the Camp, the Chase

from the winning post, and as by that time he had
begun to sober down, I was able to take a steady pull
at him between the two last hurdles. Half-way between
them. Captain Knox, 14th Hussars, on " Cruiskeen," who
had already won twice that spring, at length got up to
me, but I had command over " Portal " at last, was able
to hold him back to his stride, and kept him back alongside
the other. Together we rose at the jump, but Captain
Knox had been driving his mare hard to reach us, while
the timely pull I had been able to take at " Portal " had
allowed him to recover himself. We were quickest away
from the hurdle, and won by three-quarters of a length.
Before I could stop him, moreover, he galloped on, and
ran into the bushes at the Queen's Hotel, a considerable
distance beyond the grand stand. On returning to weigh-
in, poor little " Driver " Browne was waiting to lead the
horse into the paddock. He was a great friend, and
having had very bad luck for some time in betting, was
most anxious for something really good on which to
recover his losses. I had recommended him to back
" Fortal," knowing how well the horse was, but he had
demurred for a long time, saying that though he liked the
horse, he had been told he could not stay. " Can he stay,
* Driver ' ? " I asked, bending over as he took the bridle.
" Yes, yes," he replied ; " I put £200 on him ! " but I fear
he did not get very long odds, for the horse started a hot
favourite at 6 to 4 against him. I sold •' Fortal," and he
never won again. Soon afterwards poor Captain Browne
was, alas ! the victim of a fatal accident at Esher Station,
to the sad regret of all who knew him.

Browne and I were once journeying together to
Dover Races, he to ride " Wildfiower," and I to have the

Anecdotes of Racehorses 89

mount on " St. Magnus," in the same race. When the train
drew up at Woolwich Station, several of his friends had
come down to have a chat with him, and he got out of the
carriage to converse with them. From some wild whim,
they seized hold of him as the train was just going to start,
and then three or four of them, after swinging him back-
wards and forwards two or three times, with one big heave
pitched him up on to the roof of the carriage whilst it was
going on. The " Driver " clutched hold, and there he had to
remain till the next station was reached. It was a foolish
thing to do on the part of his comrades, for if he had
missed catching hold of something he must have been
killed ; but you cannot put old heads on to young
shoulders. The sequel was that he won the race, and
I was second to him, beaten by half-a-leugth.

CHAPTER VIII.

Some Steeplechase Horses.

On another occasion, Captain Browne and I went to the
Grand Military Eaces, when they were held at Windsor
on a course which has long ago been built over, but the
same one on which poor Lord Kossmore was killed a few
years afterwards. It was a very big course, of the old-
fashioned type, with a post and rail to jump ; a very high,
strong, quickset hedge, on the far side of which was " the
town drain " — a wide, deep, natural ditch, the approach
being over ridge and furrow, downhill ; and a lane to go in
and out of twice.

We had neither of us been engaged for the Gold Cup,
though we were both of us riding in minor races; but
as soon as we got on to the course, we were very soon
asked to ride in the big race. A short time before
starting, the " Driver " came to me with a long face, to
say that a match had been made between our mounts,
wherever we finished, and that, in consequence, we were
to ride the race out, wherever we might be. We had no
idea of figuring for the amusement of the multitude, but
there was no time for remonstrance ; so I replied that I
did not think it would matter, if we made it generally
known beforehand, adding that he had better tell all his
friends about it, and that I would do the same with mine.

Some Steeplechase Horses 91

As this seemed to be the only feasible plan, we at once set
about executing it ; as there were several high-priced
horses running, we expected to figure far behind at the
finish.

Browne was to ride Captain Turner's " David," a
horse that had been an ordinary trooper, but was reclaimed
from the ranks. He was a very good horse, though a
difficult one to steer, owing to carrying his head on one
side and having no feeling on that side of his mouth. I
was to ride Mr. Truman's " Vauban," an excellent gallop-
ing hunter, but deficient in speed when competing with
racehorses.

Amongst the runners were " Fervacques," winner of
the Northumberland Plate and Gold Vase at Ascot ;
" Q. C," a well-known good horse ; " Little Eogue," for
whom a very large sum had just been paid, on purpose to
win this race ; " Donate," winner of some hunters' flat
races ; and six others. But we need not have troubled
ourselves much about the match, for " David " ran second
and " Vauban " ran fourth, the race being won by
" Donato." We were much relieved at the favourable
termination to our anxieties.

In 1870 I very narrowly missed becoming possessor
of that afterwards famous horse, " Chimney Sweep," who
so often ran second for the Liverpool Grand National for
Lord Marcus Beresford. At the Aldershot Summer Meet-
ing, I was riding a three-year-old filly, by " Lord Clifden,"
in the Flying Stakes, and we fancied our chance very
much ; but there was one horse in the race that we could
find out nothing about, of the name of " Meteor." On
going into the dressing-room, I found Mr. Hope-Johnstone
putting on his racing things, and, on asking what he was

92 The Cotcrse, the Camp, the Chase

going to ride, found that it was this very horse. I told
him we had a good thing if " Meteor " was of no account,
and, being assured that we need not be in the least afraid
of him, we accordingly backed " Affable." Going down to
the post I cantered down with " Meteor," and felt anything
but reassured when I noticed his easy swing and wiry
appearance ; but Hope- Johnstone again repeated that no
danger need be anticipated from him, and added that he
had backed my mount himself. When the flag fell
" Affable " jumped off with the lead, and the last thing
I saw, as we left the post, was " Meteor " rearing straight
up on end. " That is all right," I said to myself, and soon
began to look on the race as won, for the mare was swing-
ing along easily with the lead, and I saw that we had the
pace of everything there. Just when we were about
approaching the distance post I suddenly became aware
of something coming up very quick, and I at once began
to urge the mare to her utmost speed. It was not of the
slightest use, for, galloping past me with ease, the despised
" Meteor " sailed in an easy winner. The crowd became
very demonstrative against me, for they are prone to
consider they have been robbed when their " fancy " has
been beaten, and I was quite chagrined enough without
having to bear the brunt of angry looks and remarks.
However, I knew well enough that we had been beaten
easily on our merits by what must be a good horse, and,
therefore, sought to buy him. His owner was willing to
sell, and the price was arranged, when, just then,
Mr. Clare Vyner offered to send a four-year-old filly,
" Ella," to me to train, that had cost 1100 guineas as a
yearling, and, as I had no room for another, the purchase
of " Meteor " was not concluded. How he afterwards was

Some Steeplechase Horses 93

bought by Lord Marcus Beresford, who changed his name
to " Chimney Sweep," is well known in racing history, for
the gallant efforts of the horse to win the Grand National
made him the popular favourite of the day/

" Ella " was one of the most charming animals in the
world to ride — so sweet-tempered, a perfect jumper, with
great staying power. She would have made a name for
herself if she had not met with an accident that neces-
sitated her retiring to the stud. On the first occasion that
she ran she was beaten by a good horse in " Jolly Marine,"
who had won the United Stakes at Punchestown, as a five-
year-old, and run second there in the Conyngham Cup, and
third in the Downshire Plate, as a six-year-old. " Ella "
next ran at Hastings, in a two miles steeplechase, and just
before we were going to mount, a bookmaker came up to
me and said, " I beg your pardon, sir, but that horse "
(pointing to one near) " is started to knock you down.
Pve backed you, and so I thought I would tell you."
This was pleasant hearing, but the mare was very well,
a certain fencer, and I determined, the moment I got the
chance, to try and slip the field, and not to be caught
again if I could help it.

At the start I purposely kept the mare behind, trusting
to the chapter of accidents for an opening, which came
before long, for the leaders raced against each other so
hard for a sharp turn, that they all ran out very wide,
and I saw my opportunity. Urging " Ella " on, I hugged
the post, and having now four or five lengths' lead, pro-
ceeded to try to cut the others down, if we possibly could
do so. The mare ran very kindly, but we had a steep

1 Through some accident, "Affable" is not even put down in the Racing
Calendar as a starter in the above race.

94 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

little hill to descend, at the bottom of which was a
dammed-up water-jump, with the water towards us, on
the take-off side. The sun happened to be shining very
brightly, and the glitter on the water caused the mare to
begin to " prop " coming down the hill, and take the
pace off. Do what I would I could not keep up the
speed, and up alongside me came the horse that I had
been cautioned to be beware of. The rider instantly
began to try and ride me outside the left-hand flag,
necessitating my keeping a very tight hold of the right
rein, whilst remonstrating in very forcible language. Down
we came to the water, and down we came on the farther
side, for neither of the horses made an effort to jump,
being so hampered by each other, and the water being
deep close to the fence they went in right up to their
shoulders, and fell head over heels. The next three horses
were close behind, and down they came too, and I never
saw so many rolling bodies and struggling limbs about me
either before or since. Just as I had extricated the mare,
and was putting my foot into the stirrup, " Havelock "
came over the water, having been tailed off by the pace,
and I went on after him ; but poor " Ella " was very lame,
and, refusing the next three fences one after the other,
I pulled her up and walked her back, — and she never
started again. At the stud she was unlucky, more than
one of her foals meeting with fatal accidents, and the best
she bred was " Kneller," by " Knight of the Garter," though
he was only a moderate handicap horse at his best.

It may be a surprise to some to know that the late
Duke of Hamilton ever figured in a racing saddle, and
yet he did so on more than . one occasion. He rode a
magnificent black horse, "The Vet," in a match of £200,

Some Steeplechase Horses 95

catch weights, two miles on the flat, at the Donington
Hunt Meeting, on 6th December 1866. What is more,
he won by twenty lengths, and upset a tremendous " pot,"
for his opponent, " Shooting Star," started a very hot
favourite, 3 to 1 being betted on him, the famous gentle-
man-rider, Mr. H. Coventry, being his jockey. The Duke
rode the same horse again in another match at the Warwick
Spring Meeting in the same year, but this time he was not
so fortunate, "The Guide," carrying 14 st., and ridden by
Mr. F. Eowlands, beating " The Vet," 1 5 st., in a race for
two miles. The following spring the poor " Vet " came to
an untimely end. I had gone to Aldershot to ride him at
the Steeplechase Meeting, but was prevented from doing so
— fortunately, perhaps, for myself — on the ground that I
did not then belong to the Aldershot Division. The
steeplechase course was not quite the same at that time
as it is now, and there was an awkward fence at the top
of the hill, after passing the grand stand which was near
Cocked Hat Wood. Captain Papillon had the mount, and
being interested in the running of the horse, I watched
them very closely. The fence mentioned above was exactly
on the sky line, so that persons below saw the horses
clearly defined against the horizon when they rose at the
jump. As " The Vet " did so, I saw his head and limbs
collapse, and he fell a helpless mass on the ground. We
rushed up as fast as we could, and found his jockey lying
under him in a most dangerous position. His head was
exactly between the four-hoofs of the horse, and the
slightest struggle on the part of " The Vet " must have
resulted in very serious injury to his rider, who was in
such a position under the carcase that he could neither
move hand nor foot. " The Vet " had burst the main

96 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

artery close to the heart, and his death very hickily was
so instantaneous that he had never made the slightest
movement of any sort after he had fallen, and Captain
Papillon was very little the worse for the accident.

It was at Aldershot that I had my first winning mount
in an important steeplechase, and as it never rains but it
pours, the day was a fortunate one for me. I won two
races, and very nearly was successful in a third. When
in my hut in the North Camp one spring morning,
I was told that a gentleman wished to speak to me, and
on going out found a stranger waiting, who said he had
come to ask me to ride a horse for him, adding " that
he did not wish to mention the horse's name, as he wanted
to keep it dark." In the course of further conversation it
transpired that the horse had been sold for 1800 guineas
as a yearling, and had run in the Middle Park Plate. I
was only too glad of a good mount, and closed at once
with the offer, only stipulating that I should have an
opportunity of riding him over some fences, to which he
at once agreed, saying that he really much wished I should
do so. Before parting I found out that the visitor's name
was Captain Milligan, and it was settled that I should ride
the horse over the practice steeplechase course before
breakfast the next morning. It did not take me many
minutes after his departure to find out from Buff's Guide
that the only yearling sold in that particular year for
1800 guineas was " Leading Suit," and that he had
subsequently run for the Middle Park Plate for Sir
Frederick Johnston, so I felt satisfied I had ferreted
out the identity of my mount. On arriving on the ground
the next day I found Captain Milligan and Goddard, the
brother of the trainer, waiting for me, while a fine long,

So7ne Steeplechase Horses 97

low, powerful bay horse was being led about. On looking
at him I said to Captain Milligan, " Why, that is ' Leading
Suit,' " and received the answer, " How did you know ? for
I don't believe a soul here knows the horse is in Aldershot."
I did not think it necessary to enlighten him, carelessly
remarking, " I thought it must be him, it is so very like
him," and then received a fresh caution to be careful not
to divulge the name.

On mounting, another horse was sent to go with me,
but when we got near the first fence " Leading Suit "
suddenly tried hard to bolt, and though I prevented him
from doing that, he stuck his toes in the ground and
refused to jump. Turning him round, I tried again to get
him over but he would not have it, and then proceeded to kick
and rear. I soon saw that either he was to be the master
or I, so riding up to the little group who were watching, I
said to Captain Milligan, " Do you mind his having
punishment ? " and he having replied, " No, do what you
like," I turned away from the fences and proceeded to use
the whip vigorously. At first the horse plunged and kicked
in every direction, but I still kept applying the whip, and
after eight or ten strokes he gave up fighting and tried to
bolt. I knew he was conquered then, but, to make
assurance doubly sure, hit him three or four times more
as he was galloping, and then gradually getting his head
in a line for the iirst fence, allowed him to race at it ; when
within a short distance of the jump I hit him again as a
reminder, but he never offered to swerve, and taking it in
his stride he rattled along straight for the next one. As
I passed the little band I heard one of them say to the
others, " He'll do," but the meaning of the observation was
lost upon me, and it was years before I knew the
7

98 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

explanation of it. The horse was now going as willingly
as possible, and after taking him once round the course
and over the jump again that he had refused at first, I
pulled him up, and from that time to the end of his
training he never gave the slightest trouble. On the
first day of the races he ran third to " Chaddington," the
recent winner of the Erdington Plate at Birmingham,
" Aurifera," who a few days afterwards won the Grand
Stand Plate at Cork, beating us a head for second place,
and the next day he won the Light Division Steeplechase.
Being pulled out yet again for the Cup, he was sailing
in a gallant winner, when he fell heavily at the last fence
but two. From most of the horses having jumped at the
same spot it had become very weak at this place, and
not having then learned that a tired horse always " runs
through " a gap, I put him at it, thinking to save him
exertion by so doing. The next moment we were rolling
over and over as if we were never going to stop. There
was a ditch on the far side, and as " Leading Suit " did
not rise at the jump, he put both feet into the ditch and
over we went.

Some years afterwards I was an A.D.C. in Dublin,
when a man, who was a small horse dealer, called at my
quarters in the Koyal Barracks. He introduced himself as
having been the means of obtaining " Leading Suit " for
Captain Milligan, and stated that it was he who was leading
the horse about on the occasion of my first ride upon him.
It flashed across my mind to ask him the explanation of
the remark I had heard made when the horse had given
up plunging, viz., " He'll do," and asked him to what it
referred ; he then told me the following story : — It
appeared that a rider of much repute had been engaged, a

Some Steeplechase Horses 99

winner of many races, and that he had ridden the horse
several times, but that " Leading Suit " had gradually
become the master, and utterly refused to jump for him.
At last he had thrown the mount up. When it became

known that had refused a mount on Milligan's horse,

on account of its temper, no one else would ride it, and
they were at their wits' end for a jockey. This man had
proposed to give me the chance, for he had often
seen me ride " Kettle-Holder," an excellent hunter,
and own brother to " Ella," but a very bad-tempered
horse. If I rode one bad-tempered horse for myself, why
should I not ride another for them seemed a natural question,
and hence they applied to me. He said they were
watching with the greatest anxiety when the horse refused,
and their relief was intense when I rode up and asked
permission to administer the whip, and it was when they
saw the horse was conquered that they made use of the
words that so puzzled me.

The fence that is now known as the " Regulation
Ditch" was just then (1870), though not compulsory,
being introduced on some of the " made " steeplechase
courses, and we were racing over one for the first time at
Aldershot. On the opening day I had noticed " Tilbury
Nogo " refuse this fence and then bolt up a lane to the
left, disappearing from view altogether. When I was
proceeding to don my racing things , on the second day, I
was surprised to see his owner, an officer in the 42nd
Highlanders, pulling on his boots, with a very dismal face.
He came from my part of Yorkshire, being the son of a
banker at Harrogate, and knowing that he never rode in
steeple-chases I expressed my surprise to find him
dressing. He informed me that his jockey of the previous

lOO The Course, the Camp, the Chase

day had declined to ride his horse again, and as he knew
no one else, he was going to ride it himself. Suddenly a
gleam of hope shot across his face, and he exclaimed
eagerly, " Oh, are you engaged for it ? Oh, do ride for me."
It had not occurred to me that he would ofier me the
mount, and I was a little taken aback as all I knew of the
horse was from seeing him bolt, and I wished, too, to keep
fresh enough to ride " Leading Suit " in both his races. I
replied that I would see how I got on in the first race,
and would let him know after that was over whether I
would ride " Tilbury Nogo " or not. Instantly he began
to undress, so that I exclaimed, " Wait a bit, it is not
certain yet that I can ride for you," " Oh, yes it is," he
replied, " it is sure to be all right," and off came one boot,
much to my amusement, and oif came the other boot, in
much greater haste than they had been put on. His face
was beaming again with relief, so it was evident there was
no help for it, and it was arranged that he should go down
to the fence, where the horse had bolted before, and be
ready with a hunting whip in case of accidents. When
we started, " Tilbury Nogo " ran straight enough at first,
and we came at the objectionable fence just behind the
leaders, as it seemed advisable that he should have a lead
over. The moment he saw it, however, he stuck his toes
into the ground, sliding right up to the rail and nearly
falling over it into the ditch from the impetus. I had
just turned him round to put him at it again when up
rushed Harrison with the hunting whip. In his zeal he
never looked to see where he hit, and the blows came fast
on my legs, on my hands, and on my body, as well as on
the horse. In vain did I shout at him to be careful, he
only redoubled his blows, and as the horse was plunging

Some Steeplechase Horses loi

heavily, and his tail was still towards the fence, I had no
chance of letting him go. At last I was able to put his
head straight for the jump, and such a lesson had he had
that he went as straight as an arrow and soon caught up
the others. In fact it was all I could do to hold him, and
in the end he won in a canter. I rode him twice after-
wards on the flat and won both times, but on the first
occasion we never got the race. The judge had just had
an excellent luncheon and somehow mistook the colours.
I won easily, and was chatting to the rider of the second as
we were going back to scale, when I caught sight of the
numbers, and said to him, " Is not that your number
they've put up as the winner." We naturally concluded
it was a mistake, but the judge maintained he was right,
in spite of the testimony of both of us and of several
people stationed near his box. On being questioned he
described the race in exactly the reverse way to which it
was run, saying that I had made the running and that
my opponent had caught me inside the distance and
beaten me, which was just contrary to the actual fact.
Anyhow we lost the stakes and our bets, and felt very
angry.

CHAPTER IX.

Devonshire.

The winter of 1869-70 was a very severe one, occasioning
much discomfort to all who were quartered in the old
wooden huts at Aldershot. We had, however, as com-
pensation, a great deal of skating, though i^ was occasion-
ally rather dangerous, as places here and there did not
freeze as soon as the rest, and when covered over after-
wards by a thin skin of ice, were undistinguishable from
the sound ice. In this way one of my brother officers
was very nearly drowned. He had only just begun to
skate, and to keep himself warm was wearing a long thick
greatcoat, while mastering the difficulty of keeping on an
" edge." He was plodding along by himself, when he got
on to some of the thin ice, which at once gave way with
him. Weighted as he was by his greatcoat, it was all
that he could do to keep his mouth above water, holding
on to a large piece of broken ice, for his struggles at first
had broken up the ice in every direction round him.
There was a great cry for ladders and ropes, and several
well-meaning individuals started off to skate to Aldershot
for them, a distance of two miles, and long before they
could have returned our comrade must have disappeared.
Fortunately I was wearing a very long woollen comforter,
so long, indeed, that the ends nearly touched the ground

Devonshire 103

on either side when I stood upright. This was quickly
tied to my stick, and two or three pocket-handkerchiefs
added to the comforter, made a sufficiently long rope.
Getting on to a large piece of ice I cast the line, as if I
was using a rod, and fortunately succeeded the first throw
in hitting him in the face. He clutched hold, and by
turning my skates broadside I got a good purchase,
sufficient to prevent being dragged in. Plenty of willing
hands knotted another rope, which was thrown to me,
and we were both speedily hauled on to the firm ice.

In this same frost a terrible accident happened at
Bearwood, not far distant from Aldershot. One of the
young Walters broke through, and a brother endeavoured
to save him by lying down on the ice and holding out
his hands. He had no purchase, however, and was
speedily pulled in also, thus making the misfortune still
worse. A third brother rushed up, and unfortunately
repeated the same manceuvre, and he, too, was pulled in,
there being then three that had to be extricated instead
of only one. Eventually two were saved, I think the first
and the third that were immersed, but one poor fellow
was drowned, and it threw a gloom over all the district.

It is lamentable how many lives are yearly lost which
might be saved, if those who are present but keep cool
enough to think how a rope can be quickly made. A few
years ago poor old Holmes — so well-known to everyone
quartered at Gibraltar at that time — was drowned in
trying to ford a torrent, on the way home from hunting.
He had companions with him, and was whirled by the
current almost within arm's length of the shore, and yet
no endeavour was made to construct a rope, though
hunting whips, stirrup-leathers, and reins, were all at

I04 The Cotirse, the Camp, the Chase

hand. Just at the time I am writing these words, two
men have been drowned, one at Malton, and the other
at York, and each of them were within five or six yards
of the bank, with several spectators looking on. One man
who was bathing at the same spot, did indeed go to assist
the poor fellow who was drowned at York, who had fallen
out of a boat, fully dressed, and yet instead of seizing him
from behind by his coat-collar, or his arm above the elbow,
he actually swam up in front and took hold of his heard.
The natural consequence was that the drowning man
endeavoured to clutch hold of his would-be rescuer, who
promptly let him go, and left him to his fate. It is
difficult to get a good hold of an absolutely naked person
in the water, so that he cannot turn round upon the
person who has come to his help, but it can be done
by getting a grip of his arm from behind, close up
to the armpit. It is possible then to keep him at arm's
length, and to push him away whenever he tries to turn
round. Everyone should know how to make a rope out
of ordinary wearing material, such as pocket handkerchiefs,
braces, long stockings, neckties, etc., and which are sure to
be on the spot. It is easy to tie them together so that they
shall not slip, by tying each material on itself, in the same
way as fishermen tie gut of different sizes, to make an
ordinary casting line.

While we were quartered at Plymouth we had
many experiences of strange steeplechase courses, for in
that sporting county they love to see horses race over
a natural country, the same that is crossed when hunting,
for they wish to test the handiness of the competitors, as
well as their speed and stoiitness. There was a well-
known course at Koborough Down, which would have

Devonshire 105

astonished a horse schooled over nothing but flying fences ;
and an up-country jockey would have been puzzled to
make his way over it, without some previous local practice.
One principle seemed to have been followed by the
management when laying out the course, which was never
to let two fences succeed each other in a straight line,
but always at once to make a turning to the right or the
left, as soon as a fence had been jumped. In fact the
letter Z gives a fair idea of the plan on which they had
proceeded. Added to this inconvenient idea, there was
a road to jump into, from the top of a bank 7 ft. 6 in.
high, and the bank out of it, though a comparatively low
one, was only distant about the width of a cart. At one
meeting there, one of my brother officers, Mr. E. W. Dunn,
a remarkably fine rider, was piloting "Top Sawyer," by the
" Flying Dutchman," when the latter took it into his head
to refuse, while at the same time one of the stirrup-
leathers unfortunately broke. Slipping his left arm
through the stirrup, so as not to lose it altogether, as he
had weighed out rather fine, Mr. Dunn resolutely battled
with the horse, who was showing temper, and rearing
badly in the vain attempt to get rid of his rider. I had
been riding in a previous race, and was going to ride again
subsequently, so I still had on my boots and breeches,
and, borrowing a hunting whip from a bystander, I ran
down just as I was to try and assist in conquering the
wilful brute. Many others had also assembled to watch
the fight, and when I arrived there, a farmer on a tiny
Exmoor pony jumped off it, and saying to me, " Here sir,
give him a lead over," gave me a " leg up " on the mite
he had been riding. The animal was so small that my
feet nearly touched the ground on each side, and the

io6 The Cottrse, the Camp, the Chase

crowd forming a lane, I got in front of " Top Sawyer,"
and set the pony going at the fence, amidst the cheers of
the spectators. There is but little, we are told, between
the sublime and the ridiculous, and the cheering speedily
ended in laughter, as the pony stuck his toes in the
ground and absolutely refused to move. However help
was at hand, for the owner rushing up, gave the pony
such a cut over his quarters that it speedily changed its
mind, and crawled up the bank, like a mouse running up
a wall, closely followed by " Top Sawyer." There were
but two more fences to jump before landing on to the
flat for the run in. The pony gallantly jumped them,
with "Top Sawyer" following meekly behind, and then
the latter made the best of his way to the winning-post,
and secured the money given to the second horse. Of all
the curious courses, however, in that country, none can
equal Totnes. Modbury required a little nerve to ride
over, as, in the course of the race, a good-sized ordinary
gate had to be jumped, and then afber slithering down a
very steep descent into a trout stream, and floundering
across the rocks, it was necessary to hold tight on to
the mane, and stand in the stirrups, to get up the opposite
side. Totnes, however, is quite unique. Imagine gallop-
ing up to a high railway embankment, then turning at
right angles to the right for a few yards, and then sharp
to the left, underneath the railway bridge, which crosses
the river. As soon as you have emerged from the bridge,
you must drop down into the river and wade across, up
to your saddle-flaps, and then come back under the railway
bridge, turn to the left, and proceed over several fair
banks to a flag in the distance. After turning this, the
next thina; is to take a line back for the river, at a

Devonshire 107

different place from the former crossing, but before reach-
ing it you have to gallop a quarter of a mile, down hill,
along a turnpike road. That tries unsound legs and feet,
with a vengeance ! Afterwards you drop into the river
again, crawl up the opposite bank, jump a hurdle as soon
as ever you reach terra firma, and find you are at the
winning post. Certainly it is productive of much fun
and merriment, and yet it requires a good horse to win,
and a bold rider, for they breed some good horses in
Devonshire, and ride them well into the bargain !

An extremely good horse was a frequent winner at
this epoch, belonging to a miller, " Barumite," by " Gemma
di Vergy," a son of " Sir Hercules." This horse had been at
the stud ever since he was two years old, and being an
aged horse at this time was very often competing against
his own stock. It was said that his owner had refused
a thousand guineas for him, a very great price in those days
for a steeplechase horse, but he must have made a great
deal of money by him, for, if report spoke truly, sometimes
more was made by his losing than when he won. When-
ever his long flowing tail was seen floating out proudly as
he galloped, it was safe to back him; but if his tail
was tied up in a club, it was wiser to back the second
favourite ! ! I once went to Torquay to ride him, but
almost at the very last moment it was intimated to me
that the miller wished to ride him himself — the only time
I ever knew him do so. There was but just time to tie his
tail up, and I watched the proceeding rather mournfully,
for I should have dearly liked the mount. " Barumite "
" refused " before he had gone half a mile, and was pulled
up. The public took it rather badly on that occasion, and
rather forcibly desired an explanation, but the jockey did not

io8 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

see the necessity of returning to weigh in, and maybe all's
well that end's well. " Barumite " was more than " useful."
He could win a two-mile flat race one day, and another
over hurdles the next. Then he would journey into the
Midlands, or the Metropolitan district, and after winning
at Warwick, or Croydon, would return to his beloved
banks again. He was an extremely sure fencer, a beautiful,
compact, muscular horse to look at, and reminded one very
much of an enlarged Arab, and from his docility he might
well have been one. His constant attendant was a tall,
old man, whose hair was verging on white, and who never
got on to his back. This man was perfectly devoted to his
charge, and would walk for hours by his side when doing
walking exercise. When " Barumite " was ten years
old he was bought for a large sum by the late Major-
General Seymour, who was in hopes of winning the Grand
Military with him, but for some reason the horse did not
run up to his old form, and he was defeated easily.

There was a little meeting in Cornwall, at Landrake,
and Mr. Dunn once sent a good old Irish horse of his own
to run there. As the racecourse was sixteen miles from
our barracks, the horse was sent over early in the
morning, and we started at a later hour to drive there
in a pony-cart. When we arrived, however, at Saltash,
the floating ferry-boat had broken down, and there
was no apparent means of crossing, although " Kildare "
had got safely over before the accident had occurred.
It seemed, however, that if we could get a couple
of fishing-boats it might be possible to get the little
cart conveyed in one, and the pony, with ourselves, in the
other. The boats were obtained, and we essayed to cross,
devoutly hoping that the owner of the pony-cart might not

Devonshire 1 09

be looking out of the train, which was then passing over
Brunei's famous viaduct, and in which we expected that he
was travelling. The cart was soon got on board, but in
vain did we try every means in our power to get the pony
into the other boat, for nothing would induce it to embark.
At last, in despair, I suggested that we should swim the
pony over behind our boat, and after some demur it was
acceded to, as no other means of crossing presented itself.
To our surprise the pony offered no resistance, and as soon
as the boat began to recede from the shore it followed us
without any difficulty and swam beside us, while we
guided it by the harness reins attached to the bridle. The
three-quarters of a mile were soon passed over, and we
were quickly en route, again for Landrake, but so much
time had been lost that we feared we should never reach
the course in time. Fortunately, our race was fixed for
one of the last events, and we arrived on the scene while
the preceding one was being run. Our difficulties, how-
ever, were not yet over, for we were immediately met by
the lad who had gone with " Kildare '" in the morning,
saying that he had lost his way and had only just arrived,
while " Kildare " had had nothing to eat since he had left
his stable at 7 A.M. This was cheerful news, for it would
never have done to have fed him within a few minutes of
his race, so we procured a bottle of ale and poured it down
his throat. He seemed rather to like it, and the effect it
speedily had upon him was almost magical. Instead of
looking rather weary and jaded, he became almost playful,
and stepped out as proudly as if he had just come out of
his stable. He ran, too, as well as he looked, and taking
the lead about half-way, he was never again approached,
and won easily by several lengths. Our return home was

no The Coitrse, the Camp, the Chase

a triumphant one. The ferry-boat had been repaired, and
was ready to receive us, but all the population of the
village turned out to do honour to the pony that had
swam across in the morning.

The history of that pony was rather remarkable, for
one of our subalterns — the present Sir Thomas Fermor-
Hesketh — put into a raffle for him, and tied with another
man for first prize. The day and hour were fixed for
the " tie " to be decided by the throw of dice, but,
unfortunately, it was Hesketh's turn to go on guard, and
he was consequently unable to be present. He there-
fore requested me to go in his stead, and at the appointed
time I presented myself at the rendezvous, the back
parlour of Jackman, the horsedealer's house, which was
crowded with spectators. We were to have three throws
of three dice each time out of a teacup ! We threw in
turns, and I made an extremely good score, getting 18,
17, and 13. My opponent was beaten easily, but then
objected to the decision on the ground that he had never
thrown dice out of a teacup before ! I promptly responded
by announcing that not only had I never thrown out of a
teacup, but, in addition, I had never thrown three dice before !
The objection was therefore overruled, and the pony came
into the possession of Mr. Hesketh. He was an Exmoor,
nearly white in colour, between 12 and 13 hands high,
and one of the fastest and gamest ponies in the world;
and before being raffled for had been matched to trot
sixteen miles in the hour in an ordinary pony-trap.

Plymouth was a charming quarter, and with hunting
and shooting in the winter, and cricket, steeplechasing,
fishing, and otter-hunting in the summer, there was always
some exciting amusement on hand. A piece of luck befell

Devonshh'-e 1 1 1

me the very first time I ever saw an otter hunt. I dined the
night before with Captain J. Euck-Keene, who commanded
a battery of artillery there, and he said in joke, " If you
want to distinguish yourself to-morrow, you must tail the
otter the first time you go out." It was a curious fact
that I did do so, and I have never again had another
chance of repeating the feat. We had been hunting the
otter for some time, and came to a long shallow with only
one more pool and shallow before reaching a very deep
mill-dam. If the otter once got into the latter, it was
almost impossible to capture him, as the banks were lined
with numbers of old willow trees, whose submerged roots
gave it impregnable hiding-places. The command was
issued to line the shallow and prevent the otter passing
it, so a number of us stood nearly knee deep in the
water, and so close together that we almost touched
each other. The water had got too muddy to see
the otter, nor could he see us, and several times he
bumped against our legs and then turned back. At
length, however, he got through the line and was well up
the pool above before it was discovered he had escaped.
It seemed there might be just a chance of heading him at
the next shallow, the one below the mill-dam, and climbing
up the bank I ran as fast as I could to get there before
him. Just as the head of the " stickle " was reached, the
otter was floundering up it on the far side, as it was of
such a depth that he could neither swim nor yet run ; he
had but a few yards to go, and though I jumped into the
water and rushed at him, to my chagrin I was just too
late, and as I approached he got into deeper water and
disappeared from sight. Partly from vexation, I think, I
threw myself flat into the water and made a grab, and, feel-

1 1 2 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

ing something furry, closed my hand. To my joy I had
caught him by the extreme tip of his tail, and rose up
with the otter struggling hard for his liberty. Although I
had been well used to handling live foxes when Whip to the
beagles at Eton, I had never been in such a predicament
as now, for the stream came up to the top of my calves,
and having only hold of the end of the tail, I could not
lift the otter clear of the water. After a very narrow
escape of having his teeth fixed in my leg, it seemed that
the best way would be to keep him swinging, so turning
round and round like a teetotum, a good rotary motion was
kept on the otter until the shore was reached, when he was
flung up to the expectant hounds.

Old Mr. Trelawney, of Coldrennick, was then the
Master of the Foxhounds, and hunted otters in the summer
with a portion of the pack. He much preferred them to
the rough hounds, as he maintained that the latter were so
fond of throwing their tongues, that they would open on
the scent when it was many hours old, for it lies for a
long time in the damp, shady ground near the river.
Foxhounds, he used to say, had just as good noses, but
would not speak to the scent unless the otter was close
before them. When they gave tongue it was certain the
otter was there, whereas the rough hounds might keep the
" field " expectant for half the day, while the otter was
snugly ensconced in another river three or four miles off.
Still, Mr. Trelawney liked to have one or two rough
hounds in the pack, as their musical voices served to keep
up the interest, and were an additional charm as they
resounded through a wild, rocky dell, though till the fox-
hounds chimed in no real work could be anticipated. It
was only certain families of foxhounds that cared for the

Devonshire 1 1 3

scent of an otter, and others would never enter to it, but
those that did so got very fond of it and became very
keen. The constant wet, however, tried their feet very
much, and they got footsore if they had to travel far by
road to reach their kennel.

One day when otter-hunting, someone further down
the stream raised the cry, " The eels are coming," and in a
few minutes a black, wriggling mass appeared, looking at
first sight as if the bed of the river had suddenly become
covered by a huge bed of weeds.

It is a curious sight to watch the ascent of these tiny
eels when they leave the sea and fill the rivers in the
spring, literally in myriads. The life history of eels has
yet to be discovered, though much has been found out
of late years that was never before suspected. It seems
certain that they never breed in fresh water, and that
after staying there for a period, they descend to the sea
in the autumn months, from which they never again
return. Their breeding-places may be in very deep water,
as is now very generally believed, but surely they cannot be
a very long way from the shore, for when the eel-fry seek
the rivers they are very tiny little things, and would
scarcely make a very long journey in the sea to look for
their country residences. Still, they are most persevering
when once in fresh water, and not only force their way up
waterfalls and weirs, but ascend also field drain pipes,
thus gaining access to remote ponds, and even the metal
pipes of water mains. They grow to an immense size in
New Zealand rivers, eels of from 20 lb. to 30 lb. in
weight being quite common, and the Maoris are very
clever in catching them. One of their practices is to take
advantage of their migrating habits, and choosing a bend

114 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

of a river where there is a rapid descent, they cut a sluice
into a field at the upper part, and back into the river
again at the lower part. Then they guide the eels to the
sluice by making across the stream a slanting fence of
thorns, which does not stop the flow of the water alto-
gether, though the eels do not pass through on meeting
it, but coast along till they come to the sluice. Down
they go into the field, and when the Maoris think that
the time has come, they stop the upper sluice and open
the lower one, which until then has been kept closed.
The water soon runs off, and the eels being left in the
mud in the field are speedily caught and preserved for
future use. Eels of great size are a very formidable
danger when bathing, and at one favourite bathing-place
in the Upper Island, so many first-rate swimmers were
drowned at one particular spot, that many theories were
started to account for the cramp which was supposed to
attack them there. Each used to throw up his arms and
shriek, and disappear, and notices were posted up warning
people against bathing there. At last it was discovered
that the unfortunate swimmers were seized by gigantic
eels, who used to come behind them when battling against
the strong current, and drag them down.

The late Mr. Eochfort Boyd used to relate an amusing
story of some tenants of his near the Elver Brosna in
Westmeath. The land was very swampy, and when the
rent day came the tenants invariably pulled long faces
and declared they could pay no rent, as their lands had
all been overflowed and the crops spoilt. This happened
so often that at last Mr. Eochfort Boyd and a neighbouring
landlord combined to drain this land, and he gleefully
rubbed his hands on the next rent day, as now the old

Devonshire 1 1 5

reason was gone for paying no rent. An Irishman has
a wonderful knack of finding excuses, and when the first
tenant presented himself he pulled a longer face than ever,
declaring that now it was (luite, impossible to pay a bit of
rent at all. " Why, how is this," said his landlord, " have
not I drained all the land for you, and made it sound."
" Shure, your honour," replied Pat, " and that's the rason
of it. Begorra the eels paid the rint before, and now
your honour has drained the land, sorra an eel is ivir
seen ! "

Devonshire was a great country for vipers, and they
were particularly fond of lying coiled up on a bank
sunning themselves, just where there was a weak place
in the fence, at the very spot most convenient for getting
over. It was necessary, therefore, before laying a hand
upon the bank to look closely, lest a viper should be
there, for they did not always move away when
approached. It was quite a common thing to shoot
them, when thus taking a siesta. I once saw two
coiled in an embrace, when walking over to Maristow
from Staddon Heights, on a Sunday afternoon. Un-
fortunately we had some terriers with us, and when they
saw my companion and me stop, they rushed up to see
what was going on, and we were obliged to kill the snakes
to save the dogs. The navvies were then still engaged in
building the fort at Staddon, and a camp was pitched there
every summer for musketry. Our only water supply was
from a well, and as the water began to be very disagree-
able, an investigation was made, when it was discovered
that one of the navvies had thrown a dead duck into the
well some time before. Though they had all been aware
of it, they had still continued to use the water, and had

ii6 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

not mentioned the fact for fear of being prevented from
doing so. A sentry, of course, was at once placed over
the well until it could be cleansed, and his forcible pre-
vention of the navvies' wives from obtaining the water
for tea, very nearly ended in a general row.

We played a great many cricket matches in all parts
of Devonshire, and though I was a very humble member
of the regimental eleven, I could generally get into double
figures, if I was only allowed to hit as I pleased. If I
was told to play steady and keep up my wicket, I was
sure to be out at once. We were playing once at
Torquay, where the ground was rather confined, so there
was a rule in force that a ball hit over the fence counted
six, and one into it was four. It was very nearly time
to draw the stumps, and when twenty minutes to six
arrived, I had taken off my pads and gloves to stow them
away, for at a quarter to six we were to leave to catch
the train. Just then a wicket was bowled, and being the
next to bat, I ran down just as I was. Fortescue, who
had an extremely fast delivery, was bowling, and had only
the week before got rid of Cambridge for a very small
score, when playing for Oxford. He was very much
incensed at anyone coming in without pads to oppose
his bowling, and he sent the first ball straight at my
legs. It was pitched up a little too far, and seeing it
was a beautiful half-volley, I drove it hard over his head
and out of the field for six. It took some time to get the
ball back again, and Fortescue sent the next ball harder
than ever at my legs again. It was another half-volley,
but that time stuck in the hedge instead of going over,
and so only counted four. The third ball, the last of
the over, went to square-leg for three, and then the

Devonshire 117

stumps were drawn, and I retired with thirteen to my
credit for three balls.

Some years afterwards I had a very triumphant
moment when playing at Gibraltar. We had been to
Ireland since the Devonshire days, and to the Ashanti
War, and I had not had a bat in my hand for years.
The whole battalion almost had changed, and none of
the privates had ever seen me play at all. A match was
got up, the officers against the men, and being so utterly
out of practice, I requested Captain Slade, the captain of
our team, to put me in the last man. When it came to
my turn to bat, ten runs were still wanted to equal the
men's score, and on approaching the wicket, someone of
the opposite side called out, " Come and catch him off his
bat." The idea was popular, and I smiled inwardly to
myself as they crowded close around. A slow, well-
pitched-up ball was bowled, and the thrill that went
through the faces, I often think of, as I took a step
forward and lifted my bat for a real drive. They had
no time to move, but were just able to grasp the mistake
they had made as I caught the ball fair, and it fortunately
went through their midst without touching anyone. The
next moment they were all retiring to the uttermost parts
of the field with great celerity, and after making the
necessary eleven to win the match, I carried my bat
out in triumph.

CHAPTER X.

Ireland.

In the days when we were first quartered in Ireland, no
blight of legalised robbery had fallen upon it. The
landlords mostly lived in their demesnes, and spent their
money among their own people. There was fun and
merriment everywhere, and thorough loyalty and recipro-
city of feeling between the peasantry and the " ould
gintry."

I was there when the first shadow of the Land
League appeared, rousing the demon of cupidity ; and
how was it met by the authorities ? The Government
was warned repeatedly by generals, police officers, and
magistrates that they must not allow the open-air meetings
to take place ; that banners, bands, and wild speeches
would so inflame the excitable population that no one
could foresee where the spirit they were raising might
lead them. It was all to no purpose. Gladstone desired
an Irish cry, and by coquetting with Home Eule wrecked
the great Liberal party, — a blessing in disguise, perhaps,
to the nation, for since the formation of the Unionist
party, the imperial instincts of Britain have once more
sprung into prominence, and a repetition of the shameful
episode that followed the disastrous " Majuba Hill " would
surely now be impossible.

Irela7id 119

Yet all through that time of violence and murder,
when a man's life was not worth a day's purchase, if he
had been known to pay his rent, hundreds of thousands of
the tenants stood gallantly by their landlords ; often they
paid secretly, and in innumerable cases placed the
rent in the bank, to the landlord's account, without
mentioning names, and taking no receipts, so that the
transactions could not be traced. At the bank I was in
the habit of using, the manager informed me that nearly
£400,000 had been so paid into their different branches,
and I can well believe it. The old peasantry were per-
fectly honest, and had no wish whatever to defraud any
one of their just rights, but it was the vast class of
" corner-boys " and the young men who had nothing to
lose that composed the lawless crowds, and did most of
the mischief. At the same time, Ireland differs so
essentially from England in its habits and thoughts that
scarcely any man was bold enough to act contrary to
the public opinion of his district. Englishmen cannot
understand how lightly life is held in the sister island ;
or that, whatever the crime is, the instinct of the populace
is to shelter the criminal, instead of as in England to
aid the law. There is no horror of a blood-stained
murderer ; but on the contrary he is rather looked upon
in the light of a hero if he has shot a landlord, or an
agent, or some one who has paid his rent when he has
received warning not to do so.

Englishmen, too, cannot believe the working of the
Land Bill that they themselves passed into law, to be in
truth what it really is, simple stealing from the unfor-
tunate landowner. No one in England will believe,
however plainly they are told, that if a tenant

1 20 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

disagrees about the rent, he can go to the Land Com-
missioners and have an arbitrary rent — always less than
it was before — fixed for fifteen years ; that so long as
this rent is paid, there is no power whatever of turning
him out, so that practically he has become the owner of
his holding. At the conclusion of the fifteen years, he
can again go to the Land Commissioners, and say he is
dissatisfied with the rent as last fixed. In every case
these said Commissioners have reduced the rents again —
in most cases 30 per cent, under what they themselves
fixed before, — although every description of marketable
produce has risen in value since the rent was first settled.
Thousands of landowners have been reduced to absolute
beggary by this confiscation of their property without
compensation — as well might they live under Turkish
or Moorish rule, where the Sultans make no scruple of
seizing property and no man dares to be accounted
passing rich, as live under the rule of the Land Com-
missioners.

Ireland has long been the battle-ground of political
parties, but it is a country easily governed by just laws,
firmly administered. There is no nation, however, more
given to " trying it on," when they think that their
rulers are weak, and afraid to put the law into force.
Hence the continued agrarian murders, which will be ever
cropping up, if the perpetrators think that they will
escape from paying the penalties of their crime. A very
plucky feat was performed during the troublous times that
preceded the days of the Land League, when that grand
specimen of the Church militant. Dean Holmes, aided by
Mr. Eichard Bayley, agent of Mr. Stafford O'Brien, near
Nenagh, in County Limerick, captured by themselves a

Ireland 1 2 1

man who was " wanted." He was suspected of murder,
was known to be hiding in the mountains, and at length
sure information was brought to the Dean that he was
concealed in a certain cottage. A consultation was at
once held with Mr. Bayley, and the co-operation of a
search party of cavalry was secured for the following
morning. When, at daybreak, the rendezvous was
reached, no cavalry made their appearance, so after
waiting a considerable time, without any signs of their
approach, it was determined that the agent should recon-
noitre the cottage, and see if the man sought for was
there, while the Dean kept a look-out for the soldiers.

On reaching the cabin, Mr. Bayley saw the man
through the window, but he was surrounded by several
others, who were holding an animated conversation. While
watching them, they suddenly rose and came out, barely
allowing sufficient time for the observer to conceal himself
behind the turf stack. None of them came his way,
fortunately, and they all departed except the man who
was sought, who returned into the cottage.

As several dogs belonging to the house had run out
when the men left the dwelling, it was remarkable that
none of them challenged Mr. Bayley in his hiding-place,
but the reason would seem to be that so many strangers
to them were present, they took no notice of an extra
person outside.

Mr. Bayley returned to Dean Holmes, and as there was
still no cavalry to be descried, it was resolved by the two
friends to try and take the man themselves.

Being both powerful, active men, they soon overcame
his resistance, and made him a prisoner. Mr. Bayley then
mounted his horse, and the Dean lifting the captive behind

122 The Cotirse, the Camp, the Chase

the rider, bound him to his back. They thus proceeded
towards Nenagh, and on their way met the cavalry, who
had made a mistake as to the time, and delivered the
prisoner into their charge.

Some years after this Mr. Bay ley was the victim of a
dastardly outrage. He was leaving Nenagh in company
with Mr. Michael Head, when a shot was fired, and he fell
to the ground with one side of his face and jaw blown
completely away. He was carried into a cottage close by,
and so effectual did the shot appear to have been, that when
the man who had fired came to the door a few minutes after-
wards and levelled his gun to " finish him off," he took it
down again without pulling the trigger, remarking " that it
was no use to shoot a dead man." This crime was
committed because the tenants thought that Mr. Bayley
was standing in the way of their receiving a reduction of
rent, whereas, in reality, it was the landlord who was
opposed to the reduction, but sheltered himself behind the
agent's name. Mrs. Bayley was soon informed of the
accident to her husband, and quickly arriving took her
place by his side, stanching the flow of blood by com-
pressing the severed blood vessels with her fingers.

Mr. Head galloped off to catch the night train at
Portarlington, a distance of about forty miles, and on
arriving in Dublin went straight to the residence of Sir
Philip Crampton, the celebrated surgeon. They returned
by the next train to Portarlington, from whence they
proceeded by car to Nenagh, arriving some twenty-four
hours after the outrage had been committed.

For the whole of this time the heroic wife had sat
compressing the great veins of the shattered neck, and
deservedly reaped her reward by saving the life of her

Ireland 123

husband. The skill of the great surgeon, aided by a powerful
constitution, enabled Mr. Bayley eventually to recover,
though terribly disfigured, and he lived for many years
afterwards. A feeling of satisfaction cannot be repressed
that the ruffian who fired the shot was captured, convicted,
and hanged on the charge of " attempted murder,"

In the early days of the Land League the Peace
Preservation Act was still in force, and in consequence
there were no arms in the hands of the peasantry. When
Mr. Gladstone, however, came into power in 1880, he
allowed the Act to lapse in spite of a letter from the Duke
of Marlborough, who was just then vacating the office of Lord
Lieutenant, and who strongly urged the extreme importance
of maintaining it. I was aide-de-camp to the General
commanding the Dublin district at the time, and when on
a visit of inspection at Athlone we were informed that
20,000 arms were withdrawn from that armoury alone
within a few days of the Act being withdrawn. It must
be borne in mind, too, that nearly the whole of these arms
had been taken at different times by the police in the
course of years, during the periods in which various
districts had been proclaimed for disaffection and excep-
tional crime. People being again entitled to possess arms,
everyone who could show any title to them had them at
once restored to them, to become ready tools of oppression
against anyone who dared to pay his just rent or his just
debts.

Before this, from the want of firearms, the land-
leaguers had recourse to the system of " carding," a fearful
form of torture, and almost as deadly in its effects as
shooting. There was perhaps little to choose between
either method of strikinc: terror into the hearts of their

124 Ti^^^ Course, the Camp, the Chase

victims. Perhaps it may be forgotten what the meaning
of " carding " is. It is this. If a man was suspected
of having paid his rent, some ten or a dozen of his
neighbours paid him a visit at night ; he was then stripped
naked, and held down by three or four men. Other fiends
in human form then tore every strip of skin and the
quivering flesh off his back, and frequently off his stomach
also, with a wooden board about a foot long studded with
large nails, and they did not leave their wretched victim,
writhing in his agony, until he was almost dead. Even
women, the wives and daughters of honest tenants, were
sometimes subjected to this torture ! A person who had
been thoroughly carded never really recovered from the
ferocious treatment to which he had been subjected, even
though he might escape with life at the time. Perhaps it
was more humane, after the peasants had regained
possession of arms, to shoot a man dead on the spot, though
in many cases they only mangled their victims, shooting
them in the limbs instead of in a vital place. "When I
was living in Mullingar a tenant was shot in his cottage
in the main street of a town containing 8000 inhabitants,
only a few doors from the house I was inhabiting. He
was suspected of having paid his rent, and though he
strenuously denied the charge, he was made to hold out
his right arm, and the muzzle of a revolver was placed
against it, the trigger pulled, and the Kmb shattered to
pieces. Another afternoon, when a fair was being held,
the bailiff of Mr. Smythe, of Gaybrook, was shot dead,
while hundreds of people were only a few yards distant.
The murderer was seen waiting behind a short piece of
wall in the churchyard by numbers of people, who, though
they knew the object for which he was there, neither

Ireland 125

dared to warn the victim or give notice to the police.
The poor man was killed the moment he passed the shelter
of the wall, when he got opposite the iron railings that
guarded the entrance to the church ; and no one ventured
to lay a hand upon the wretch who committed the deed.
Armenian atrocities caused a just thrill to sweep through
England, and yet crimes every whit as savage were daily
being committed within almost a stone's throw of England,
and actually under her Government ! Let it not be for-
gotten that it was the publication of the " No Eent
Manifesto," issued on 19 th October 1881, and signed by
Mr. Parnell, Mr. Kettle, Mr. Davitt, Mr. Brennan, Mr.
John Dillon, Mr. Sexton, and Mr. Patrick Egan, that at
long last led to the suppression of the Land League on
21st October. But the mischief had long been growing
up under the very noses of the Government, and was
already done ; and, phcenix-like, the National League
sprang from the ashes of the Land League, and carried on
its career of crime and misery. The Catholic Archbishop
of Cashel, Dr. Croke, all honour to him, hastened to issue
a pastoral on 20 th October, repudiating the teaching of
this manifesto, but it fell on the unheeding ears of men
tempted by the greed of gain. The Archbishop of Dublin
took even more vigorous measures to enforce his pro-
hibition of clerical interference in favour of the Land
League, and when one curate in the diocese of Dublin
ventured to defy the archiepiscopal orders, he was promptly
suspended from his clerical functions. The moment the
Government at last showed a resolve to enforce its
authority, the great bulk of the people, landlords and
peasants alike, were only too glad to rally around it, but
up to this point Gladstone had only coquetted with

126 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

" Coercion," and " listened and heard the voice of Ireland
calling to him," through the speeches and acts of the
" patriots " and their allies.

Fancy the fear and trembling in which the unhappy
people were living. Picture in your own mind the lone
cabin on the hillside, where the poor tenant is living in
his one room, far removed from any human being to help
him in his extremity — for everyone in the country side is
leagued together against him. Some night a knock comes
at the door, and he is ordered to get up and open it. God
have mercy on him then, for the men who enter, with
blackened faces, will have none ! The terrified wife and
children may weep, and in agonising tones beg for forgive-
ness for his great crime. " Have mercy on him, your
honours, an' by the blessed Virgin he'll nivir pay the rint
again ! " But mercy is unknown to these miscreants.
His misdeeds are laid before him in pitiless tones. " He
has paid his rent ! " " He has helped a neighbour, who
was boycotted, with his praties ! " " He has voted against
a Parnellite " (as for the secrecy of the ballot, that is mere
nonsense, for how everyone has voted is well known to
everyone else, and woe betide the man who does not vote
as he is ordered, or who refuses to vote at all) ; and then
a gun is produced, and with a " One, two, three ! " the
tragedy is enacted, as it has been scores of times, that have
never been reported in the English papers at all. The
poor wife is left alone with her orphans, until the morning
light enables her to communicate with the nearest police,
who are alone her friends in her extremity, no one else
daring to come to her assistance.

Such is a true picture of the state of anarchy that
Ireland had been allowed to drift into. One bright spot

Ireland 1 2 7

was the loyalty and courage shown by that splendid force,
the Eoyal Irish Constabulary. Drawn from among the
very people they were called upon to act against, and
tempting as it must have been to assist in sharing the
plunder, which the people universally thought, from the
supineness of the Government, was going to be theirs, the
Constabulary yet remained faithful to their order. They
were called upon to undergo privations of every kind, —
hunger, fatigue, and violence, — ever fighting against their
own kith and kin ; but their conduct was the admiration
of everyone, and they were never known to fail in their
duty. They are undoubtedly one of the finest bodies of
men in the world, and much resemble in every way that
famous corps, the Guarda Civilia of Spain.

There were many brilliant deeds of heroism performed
in these unhappy times by all classes, and often by
delicately nurtured ladies, as well as by humble peasant
women, that deserved a lasting record, instead of sinking
into oblivion, as has too often been the case.

An instance occurred near Mallow in 1881 that may
well be narrated, showing how the courage of a wife saved
her husband's life. A widower named Hanlon was about
to be married again, when the family of his bride-elect
became boycotted, and, of course, the marriage was thereby
prevented from taking place. Hanlon himself was then
boycotted also, and as no person in the neighbourhood
dared to work for him, an old pensioner of the 20th
Eegiment, named Thomas Keefe, who lost an arm at the
battle of Inkermann, allowed his eldest daughter, a young
girl, to go and help in Hanlon's house. Keefe himself was
the tenant of a small farm and house at Nursetown, not
far from the other place, where he lived with his wife and

128 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

children. One night he and his wife were awakened
between two and three o'clock in the morning by loud
talking outside. The voices then called him by name,
after which several shots were fired through the window
of the bedroom, the inmates being most lucky to escape
unhurt, as the bed in which they lay was directly opposite
the muzzles of the guns. The window was then forced in
and more shots were fired, while at the same time an
attempt was made to burst in the kitchen door. This
succeeded at last, and a large party rushed in, and then
calling out for " the ould pensioner," proceeded to break
open the bedroom door.

Keefe had been prevented by his wife from getting
out of bed, and having hidden him under the clothes, she
and her little child then sat down upon him. When the
men rushed into the room they inquired where her husband
was, and she told them " he had gone to Cork." One of
them seized her by the hand, and was on the point of pulling
her off the bed, when another pointed a gun at her,
whereupon the one who had seized her hand dropped it
to make his companion put down the gun. In all pro-
bability this circumstance prevented the discovery of Keefe,
as the attention of the men was distracted from the bed to
the altercation about the gun. After saying " that it was
well for him that he was away, as they had come to pay
him off for allowing his daughter to work for Hanlon," the
party proceeded to break all the crockery and furniture in
the kitchen, and after remaining about half an hour in the
house, they took their departure, warning Mrs. Keefe not
to report their visit to the Constabulary. As soon as it
was daylight the family fled, for protection to the Con-
stabulary barracks, Keefe taking with him three bullets

Ireland 129

that had fallen on the bed, after being flattened against
the wall.

It was not long after this occurrence that the world
was startled by the terrible murder of Lord Frederick
Cavendish and Mr. Burke in the Phoenix Park. I may have
had a lucky escape from not having been with them that
evening, for Mr. Burke had kindly invited my wife
and myself to stay with him to meet Lord Frederick on
his arrival, and if we had gone it is probable that
I should have accompanied them home. An attack of
malarial fever prevented me from going there, just at the
last moment. It may be in the memory of some people
that the same assassins who accomplished these murders
had on a great many occasions attempted previously
the murder of Mr. Forster, whom Lord Frederick was
succeeding, but had invariably been frustrated in their
attempts. Perhaps no statesman has ever been more
disillusioned than was Mr. Forster. He had been employed
to administer the dole in the great famine of 1847-48,
and in his simplicity he believed that the Irish had ever
retained great gratitude for him, and that his very presence
would pacify Ireland. He was rewarded by receiving the
nickname of " Buckshot," and he felt this very keenly ;
but the bitterest blow was to find how near he had been
to assassination. To his credit, be it said, that he was
a clear-headed man, and when he once grasped the fact
that Ireland was practically in open rebellion, he did
his very utmost to use the forces that were at his dis-
posal, and to seek greater powers than Gladstone was
willing to concede. He was very fortunate, indeed, in
returning to England alive, for luck could not have be-
friended him much longer. Another friend of ours, poor
9

130 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Mrs. Smythe, of Barbavilla, was shot when returning in
her carriage from church on Christmas Day. Her death
was not intended, the shot being aimed at her husband,
who was sitting by her side. The murder took place
in the middle of the day in their own park, and it had
been remarked that something must be going to happen,
for the country-people had not gone away at once on
coming out from the service, but were standing about
in groups, as if waiting for something to happen. They
were, in truth, waiting to hear the report of the gun, for
they were well aware that Mr. Smythe was to be shot
on the way home, — and yet no one would warn him !
A rather curious circumstance was that a visitor had
intended to stay for the Holy Sacrament, and to drive
back in the carriage with his host and hostess. Had
he done so he would have been sitting in the front seat
of the brougham, and received the charge of the shot
instead of Mrs. Smythe. She had, however, herself
requested him to alter his mind, and to walk home
with her two young daughters, as she did not like them
to go home by themselves in those disturbed times.

No one, at that period, ever ventured out of doors
in Westmeath without carrying loaded arms. Even when
hunting, or riding about, it was usual to have a loaded
pistol in one's pocket. No one ever thought of sitting
in a room at night with the shutters unclosed, or of
opening the front door with a light behind one. It was
the usual thing, when dining out, for all the revolvers
of the guests to be put into one room on arrival, when
the host would lock the door and keep the key in his
pocket until the time arrived for departure. Most
persons, too, kept a loaded revolver in some secret place^

Ireland 131

in difi'erent rooms in the house, where they could be got
at a minute's notice in case of need. People very soon
got used to such a state of things, and lawn-tennis
parties, cricket matches, etc., went on just the same
as if Westmeath were in the heart of England. A sharp
watch was ever kept all the same ; and there were few
people who would not have fired at sight, if a man had
been seen skulking suspiciously behind a wall on the way
home.

CHAPTER XI.

Irish Humour.

In the disturbed state of the country the Westmeath
Eifles, of which I was then Adjutant, were not called
out for training for two years, it not being considered
safe to do so. On being asked, however, whether I was
willing to train them when the third season came round, I
replied that I was quite ready, and the recruits were accord-
ingly called up to learn their drill some weeks before the
regiment came up. When I was calling the roll it happened
to be raining heavily, and we were consequently crowded
together for shelter inside a passage. A man, sheltered
behind others in front, suddenly spat at me, hitting me
on the breast, but fortunately I just then happened to
look up from the paper in my hand, and caught sight
of him in the act. Keeping him in view, I went for
him through the crowd, and though he tried hard to get
away he was caught at last, and dragged triumphantly
back. Having the powers of a commanding-officer for
the time being I at once tried him, and sentenced
him to " cells," and then went on with calling the
roll. As soon as finished I went to the orderly-room to
sign the committal, and found my staff looking very
solemn. "You'll be shot, sir," said the sergeant-major,
" if you send the man to cells " ; but I told him I was
there to keep up discipline, and I intended to do it.

Irish Huviour 133

" I'm afraid you'll be shot, sir," said the orderly-room
clerk, and I gave him the same answer. The man never
gave any further trouble, and the militiamen in general
were as quiet a lot of men as I ever had to do with.
It is my belief that I should have been much more likely
to have been shot if I had not been firm and sentenced
the man to the punishment he deserved. Shortly before
I went to MuUingar, the stationmaster was shot dead
by a discharged porter on the platform of the station.
The crime was said to have been committed with a twelve-
chambered revolver, w-hich was also the weapon, it was
currently reported, that was used for most of the murders
in the district. And yet it had never been seen by the
police, and, in fact, no one reliable had ever seen a
twelve-chambered revolver there in their lives. How-
ever, some years afterwards, a man was " out for a job "
in the main street of MuUingar, and, by way of bravado, as
he could not find his victim, he had a shot at a sergeant
who was proceeding quietly home to barracks. He missed
the sergeant, but he had not reckoned on the fact that
following just behind him when he fired were a couple of
privates also going home. They promptly seized him,
and, helped by the sergeant, dragged their prisoner across
the Fair Green, and the regimental guard, seeing the
struggle, quickly appearing with fixed bayonets, they safely
lodged the man in the guardroom. They were only just
in time, for the " corner-boys " were bent on rescuing
their " pal," but as the distance to be traversed was only
a short one, for once they were defeated. To the surprise
of everyone, including the police, the weapon found on
the prisoner turned out to be the long-sought for, supposed
to be mythical, twelve-chambered revolver.

134 TJie Cotirsc, the Camp, the Chase

Another very sensational and rather unusual crime, for
Ireland, also took place during ray residence in Westmeath.
A young man named Croghan had just succeeded to a
small freehold farm, left him by his father, about half a
mile from Mullingar, and resided there with his mother
and his two sisters. After a short time, he came to lay
information before the magistrates that he believed his
sisters were trying to poison him, alleging that they put
some poison into his tea. They were bound over to keep
the peace ; yet, within a year, the man died, although
nothing was ever proved against the young women.
There was a considerable difference in their ages — the
elder having seen more than thirty summers, while the
younger, the acknowledged belle of the town, was scarcely
twenty, and the favourite of her mother. The manager of
the bank informed me that the moment the brother had
died, before even his death had become known, the elder
sister drove up to the bank on a car, and demanded that
all the money at her brother's credit should be at once
handed over to her. She was informed, however, that she
must wait until his will had been proved, and that if she
was the heiress she would then be able to claim the
money. She had hardly left before the mother and
the other sister appeared and made the same request, but,
of course, received the same answer. Eventually it was
found that everything had been left to the mother, and
she accordingly was placed in full possession of her son's
effects.

Shortly afterwards the elder sister, Anne, suspected
that her mother was making her will, and believing that
she would leave everything to her sister, she hired a ruffian
to shoot the latter for the magnificent sum of seven shillings

Irish Humour 135

and sixpence. Although the man received four shillings
and sixpence in advance, he could not make up his mind
to carry out the deed and earn the remainder of the blood-
money, and six months passed without his attempting to
carry out the bargain. Anne then began to reproach him,
even publicly, for his dilatoriness, so that at last it was
arranged between them that the bloody deed should be
accomplished on the following morning. At 8 a.m. he
accordingly presented himself at the cottage, Anne then
being still in bed in the front room. On seeing the man
enter her nerve failed her, and she began to shriek, where-
upon, just to quiet her, he took a shot at her, the ball
lodging in her shoulder. In the meantime the mother and
younger daughter had rushed into the inner room, and set
their backs against the door, when the ruffian, after making
out the position of the poor girl, shot her through the thin
door and killed her.

The whole tragedy was over by a quarter past eight,
and happening to go into my garden about that time for
a few minutes' stroll before breakfast, an old man who
worked for me, after furtively looking round to see if we
were observed, told me of the murder that was to take
place at 8 a.m. He had hardly finished speaking when
some of the other gardeners rushed in, exclaiming that the
deed had been done. Anne Croghan had to be removed
into hospital for her wound to be attended to, and when
she was recovered she was transferred to Dublin, to be
tried at the Assizes for the murder of her sister — it being
thought by the authorities that there would be no chance
of a conviction if the trial took place at Mullingar.
Notorious as the facts connected with the crime were, to
the astonishment of everyone, the judge who tried the

136 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

case, in his charge to the jury, stated his opinion that
such a story was simply incredible, and directed them
to return a verdict of "Not Guilty," which they most
gladly did.

A few days after the acquittal of Anne the local hair-
dresser in Mullingar came to my house to cut my hair,
and the conversation naturally turned on the exciting trial
that had just taken place. I could scarcely believe my
ears when he began, " An' wasn't it a shame that Anne
Croghan should have got off; shure if she had been tried
at Mullingar, there wasn't a man that wouldn't have found
her guilty." Such unaccustomed language astounded me,
so that I could scarcely ask, " Why, how was that ? for I
thought they would never have found her guilty here."
" Och, indeed an' they would," he replied ; " shure it was a
cruel murder ! and didn't Anne apply for compensation
FOR THE LOSS OF HER SISTER ! " The reason was out then,
with a vengeance, for the sudden change of public opinion.
Anne had actually applied for " compensation," which
would have to be levied on the district by County Cess ;
and the authorities might safely have allowed the trial to
take place at Mullingar, if only they had understood the
working of the mind of the Irish peasant.

Only one case of murder for the sake of robbery ever
came to my knowledge in Ireland, for this is not a form of
crime which is common there. In this case a Lieutenant
Clutterbuck was quartered at Birr, in King's County, and
had engaged a " sportsman " — i.e. a general loafer and,
maybe, poacher — to accompany him out shooting one day.
Before starting, Mr. Clutterbuck went to the bank to cash
a cheque, and King observed him putting a five-pound note
into his breast pocket. They then went to shoot snipe, and

h'ish Humour 137

when Mr. Clutterbuck, in order to jump a ditch, handed his
loaded gun to King, the latter shot him, and buried him in
a bog hole. Fortunately, for the sake of justice, a little
girl was going home, unobserved by King, who watched the
proceedings and gave evidence, and on her testimony he was
duly convicted and hanged.

Birr was our first quarter in Ireland, and we had a
most thoroughly enjoyable time, for the snipe-shooting
was excellent ; the foxhunting with the " Ormonde " and
King's County Hounds under Lord Hastings was very
good ; and there was capital sport also with the Kilmaine
Harriers, under the able mastership of Mr. Joseph
Studholme. "We could often reach also the meets of the
far-famed Galway Blazers, who were then hunted by one
of the best huntsmen I have ever seen, Mr. Burton Persse
of Moyode Castle. We usually had to go long distances
when we hunted with the Blazers, but Galway is proverbial
for hospitality, and many kind hosts vied with each other
in making things easy for us. There was one house that
received us more often within its hospitable doors than
any other, and there was ever a merry welcome awaiting
us from the pretty daughters of the house, who were
famous for their comeliness. One of the quaintest scenes
it was ever my lot to witness took place there one winter's
afternoon as we stopped for a few minutes rest and
refreshment. A famous " character," a former M.F.H.
of the Blazers, accompanied us, and took his seat by the
fireside with a glass of toddy in his hand. Observing that
he was toying with his glass, and knowing full well the
frolicsome nature of her guest, our hostess addressed him
with the remark, " Now, Johnny, finish up your whisky
like a good man, and get home. It's getting late !"

138 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Johnny Mahon began, stroking his long grey beard, and
then replied, " I'm not going — until every lady in the
room has given me a kiss !" This speech was received
with much merriment, but in vain did the hostess try to
induce her guest to retire. He would do nothing but sit
by the fire and repeat his formula, and though the shades
of night were fast falling — of course we all stayed to see
the fan. At last, in despair, the lady of the house said to
one of her younger daughters, " Oh, do go and give the
man a kiss, or we shall never get rid of him all night."
Thoroughly entering into the joke, the girl approached him
and gave him a kiss, but he only remarked, " That's one !
and now for the next," which raised the excitement to a
higher pitch than ever. Having broken the ice, our
hostess sent each of her daughters in turn, and at last
kissed him herself, and then said, " Now, Johnny, we've had
enough of this, you must have done with it and go
home," but again she only received in reply the little
sentence that he had so often repeated. The only other
lady in the room was an English girl, arrived from England
only the day before for her first visit to Ireland. She was
perfectly shocked at the proceedings, and it was really for
her benefit Johnny Mahon was exhibiting Irish humour.
As red as a peony, she made a bolt for the door, but the
other girls had kept an eye upon her, and long before she
could reach it one of them had turned the lock and put
the key into her pocket. In vain did the visitor declare
that nothing should induce her to comply, for the other
ladies, having suffered themselves, were thoroughly
determined that she should go through the same ordeal
also. She had not a chance- of escape, for now they had
all turned allies of Johnny Mahon, and after much

Irish Humour 139

vehement expostulation she at last ventured up and gave
the required kiss. " That's on my beard," said Johnny
Mahon ; " I must have one on my lips." Where-
upon, without further ado, she gave him another most
hearty kiss on the lips, and thus ended a thoroughly Irish
scene.

At that time Birr was the home of Major Trocke, that
most eminent of Irish amateur jockeys, who, for more than
thirty years, continued to ride with much success over the
glorious Punchestown Course. The very last time he rode
there he won the great handicap, the Prince of Wales'
Plate, on his own mare " Countess," and has ever since
been known as the G.O.M. of Ireland, When we were
hunting at Birr he was riding to hounds a charming little
horse, by a thoroughbred out of a Connemara pony, and
that horse has often been in my mind as the type of the
improvement to be aimed at in the ponies of the congested
district, instead of the animal they are likely to produce by
the use of hackney stallions. Here, in Yorkshire, may be
seen any number of horses, by hackneys, that are utterly
unsaleable, and these too are bred from larger mares than
are available in Connemara. My experience has been a
varied one, and I have always found that the Arab and the
thoroughbred improve any breed they are mated with, but
that the hackney cross is a dangerous one to meddle with.
With the former stallions all the qualities desired in a
horse are obtainable, especially hardihood, stoutness, and
courage ; while the produce also possesses the length
requisite in a riding horse. With the hackney, a little
short animal is certain to be produced, and this shortness
continues for generations, and is most difficult to eradicate.
If he has not extravagant action — which is quite

140 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

exceptional except in pure bred hackneys — he is both
unsaleable and of very little use for farm work. He will
not make a hunter, and no one would care to ride him as a
hack who has been used to the springy smoothness of a
well-bred horse. He has not power to pull a cart, or a
plough, and often not pluck enough to go far, or for many
hours together. The well-bred horse would kill him in a
short time, if both had to do the same amount of work.
That there are good hackneys, exceptional animals, is quite
true, but then they are invariably well bred, and the
excellence is due to the thoroughbred blood in their veins
and not to the hackney strain. If, then, a hackney to be of
use must be well bred, why not go to the fountain-head at
once and use the thoroughbred himself. I am convinced
that a hackney cross will only spoil the magnificent breed
of Irish hunters, if it once obtains a footing in the island,
without any compensating advantages, and the Irish hunter
is too valuable an animal to run the risk of contamination.
A cross of Arab blood is ever valued where it has been
tried, but to get the best results it is necessary to have
patience and to put the daughters to a thoroughbred horse
again. Though the produce of the Arab are usually small
compared with English hunters, this is only the case for
that generation, and the very next one regains the size and
length that has been temporarily lost, together with an
amount of nervous energy and symmetry that makes them
exceedingly valuable. In 1883 one of the chief Irish

dealers said to me, " Three or four years ago

brought a little Arab horse into my part of the country,
and I said to him, ' you are going to poison the country
with that horse,' and now here's the winner of the hunter
class at the Dublin Show by that same horse. All my

Irish Humour 141

ideas about Arabs have been clean knocked on the head."
The famous white hunter that carried Charles Davis so
many seasons with the Queen's Staghounds was half Arab,
and many other good hunters might be mentioned that
were bred in the same way.

A hunter sire that produced many good horses in
Yorkshire was bred thus, though probably few of those
who purchased his produce were aware how near to the
Arab he was in descent. This was " Due de Beaufort,"
who was by " Ventre St. Gris," out of " Dame d'Honneur "
by the " Baron." " Ventre St. Gris " was by " Gladiator,"
out of " Belle de Mint " by " Karchane " (Arab), out of
" Misere " by " Bagdali " (Arab). Thus the grandmother
and great-grandmother of " Due de Beaufort " were each
daughters of an Arabian.

He was a very useful horse himself, and was brought
over as a two-year-old, with many others, from France,
at the time when the Prussians were investing Paris, who
very nearly succeeded in capturing them as spoils of war.
He won on the fiat, over hurdles, and over steeplechase
courses, capturing the Sefton Steeplechase at Liverpool,
and running fourth for the Grand National Steeplechase
itself. Not bad work for a horse with so much Arabian
blood in his veins.

The Spaniards and Portuguese are particularly fond
of an Arab cross, and breed many excellent racehorses in
this way. What they preferred was to cross their country
mares with the Arabian, and then to follow with the
thoroughbred. To reverse this, and begin with the
thoroughbred, did not produce such satisfactory results.
The Arab cross at once knocked out the ungainly points
of the "jaca," and in place of the ungainly head, ewe

142 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

neck, and low croup of the dam, the foal inherited
invariably the style of the sire, and a handsome animal
was the result.

One of my early acquaintances at the Curragh was
that ancient jockey, the most celebrated of his day, poor
old Johnny Doyle. He was terribly rheumatic at the
time of our acquaintanceship, which was scarcely to be
wondered at when he related that " for forty years I never
went to bed sober one single night, and very seldom knew
how I got there. One day the taste for drink suddenly
left me, and I have never tasted a drop since, and that is
nearly thirty years ago now." He was fond of sitting in
the sun and chatting over his racing career, and, as our
camp was pitched close to his cottage, I often strolled down
for a chat with him. He told me that he rode his first
race in 1803, at a meeting held in Shara vogue Park, near
Birr, now the property of the Earl of Huntingdon. The
earliest racehorses he looked after and rode were mostly
the grandsons of " Eclipse," but though he had often seen
sons of " Eclipse," he had never ridden any of them. His
opinion — like that of the late Colonel Hon. J. Westenra,
the grandfather of Lord Huntingdon (who then owned Shara-
vogue Park), and of Mr. Eichard Johnston (whose memory
did not go further back than 1819, when he saw
" Blacklock " win at York) — was that the racehorses of
that day were much stouter and hardier than those of the
present day, though undoubtedly not so speedy. At the
same time, he said that sixteen-hand horses were quite
common in his early days, and he did not see very much
increase in actual height. The shape and appearance,
though, had very much changed, and the older horses
were, as a rule, much deeper-bodied, and shorter-legged

Irish Humour 143

and — as he described them — " more huuter-like," than
they are now.

Colonel Westenra was a great friend of mine, devoted
to breeding racehorses, and was never tired of talking of
his famous horse " Freney," by " Koller," the great four-
miler of his day. He bred " Whim," by " Drone," out of
" Kiss," by " Waxy Pope," the dam of " Chanticleer," and a
picture of her hung in the dining-room at Sharavogue.
It represented a dark grey, charming mare, of great
quality, with a capital back and quarters, and — just as
Doyle described — " short-legged and hunter-like." He
was a great believer in the value of the " Sweetmeat "
blood, and in consequence was very partial to " Plum
Pudding," by whom he had several promising young ones
in his paddocks, though he had then given up the active
pursuit of racing.

CHAPTER XII.

Regimental Prisoners.

While we were at Birr, a deserter was brought back to
us, who had been absent for a long time, and who
furnished me with a very curious statement of his life.
He was a highly intelligent man, quite young, and his
history was remarkable. His father was a reporter in the
House of Lords, and he himself had been a reporter in the
House of Commons, but such a life was far too monotonous
for him, and he joined a gang of pickpockets in London.
He very soon became the head of the gang, and after a
more than usually daring robbery, the police got upon his
track, so to avoid detection he enlisted into our battalion.
From his abilities and quiet conduct he was speedily pro-
moted, and for the time being was quite satisfied with his
life, till one day, when he was on the barrack square, a
man in plain clothes entered the gate, and he speedily
recognised the familiar face of a detective from London,
whom he guessed was upon his track. Whilst the latter
was making his inquiries, the other effected his escape,
and getting safe to one of the northern ports, embarked
as a sailor on board a whaler, which was just then
starting for the Arctic Seas. After spending nearly two
years there the vessel returned, and he had made all
arrangements to ship on board another vessel without
landing, and return a second time for a whaling voyage,

Regimental Prisoners 145

when who should come on board with the pilot but a
detective, who promptly arrested him and took him on
shore. This, he thought, was especially hard upon him.
It appeared from subsequent information that the police
had traced him to the port he had sailed from, and
expecting that he had gone on board a whaling vessel,
had kept a watch on the arrival of the ships that
had left about that period, and so at length ran down
their man.

For three or four years previously, we had been
troubled with some very undesirable characters in the
ranks, for, with one of the usual fits of economy, the
Government had allowed us to get far below our proper
strength, until the French and Prussian war broke out.
Then, of course, we were hurriedly raised to a war footing,
and every man that could pass muster was enlisted, and
sent to us. Amongst others was one of most violent
character, who caused great trouble when being tried by
court-martial at Dover for some offence. Private Brown
was a very powerfully framed man, and his trial had only
just commenced when he put an abrupt stop to the pro-
ceedings by knocking down both the riflemen who con-
stituted the escort, and the non-commissioned officer in
charge of them. They were so completely taken by
surprise that they were unable to offer any resistance,
and the prisoner escaped through the door, and bolted
down the staircase. The court-martial room happened to
be above the guard-room, and fortunately the sentry at
the door was a rifleman of some years' experience, and
thoroughly wide awake. Eiflemen do not fix swords
when on sentry duty, but hearing the row upstairs, the
sentry promptly fixed his sword, and stood " on guard " at

146 The Course, the Cainp, the Chase

the foot of the stairs, with the weapon pointing directly
up. There was no help for it ; the prisoner was obliged
to stop, or he would have impaled himself on the sword,
and he was promptly made a prisoner by the guard
and handcuffed. Being sentenced to imprisonment, he did
not rejoin us till we had left Dover and transferred our
quarters to Shorncliffe, shortly before which I had been
appointed adjutant of the battalion. Soon after rejoining.
Private Brown happened to be passing along the cliff walk
between Sandgate and Folkestone, and meeting a well-
dressed civilian at a very narrow part, where there was
only room for one at a time, as the other did not make
way for him, Brown threw him over the cliff. It is very
precipitous, and it was fortunate indeed that there happened
to be a ledge, on which the gentleman fell, or he would
have been dashed to pieces at the bottom. When arrested
Private Brown was almost like a wild beast. He had an
admirer in the regiment, a Private Thomas, and the two
resisted the escort sent to arrest Brown, and a desperate
fight ensued before they were mastered, and dragged face
downwards to the guard-room. When there they acted
like furies, breaking all the glass, and yelling at the top
of their voices. When food was given to them they broke
the plates, and when water was brought they smashed the
tin vessels also. After warning them more than once that
if they did not become quiet strong measures would be
used, to which they paid no heed, we proceeded to carry
out the plan I had devised, telling them at the same time
that they would be released again the moment they agreed
to behave themselves.

Their arms were tied together behind their backs, and
their legs above their knees, so that they could not walk

Regimental Prisoners 1 4 7

about. The handle of a broom-stick was put into their
mouths as a gag, and fastened behind their heads, and this
was not removed except to give them food and drink, and
then replaced. They were constantly visited, and asked
if they would agree to be quiet, but Thomas held out for
twelve hours before he gave in ; and Brown did not
succumb until twenty-four hours had elapsed. When,
however, they had once passed their word to be quiet, they
gave no further trouble whatever ; and the discipline they
had been subjected to had a most excellent effect upon the
wild spirits we were inundated with.

When Brown came up for trial before the court-
martial, warned by previous experience, I took especial
precautions, for I felt sure that if he had a chance he
would " go for " the officers composing the court. Select-
ing four of the biggest privates in the regiment, men of
known determined character, for the escort, and placing
two on each side, I gave them orders that when the com-
mand was given to halt, the two men on the flanks were
to take a pace forward, and then to face inwards. A lane
was thus formed through which the prisoner must pass
before he could attack the court, and all had orders to
knock him down at once if he moved. Behind him a
picked sergeant was stationed with similar orders, and
guarded thus in every direction, he remained as peace-
able as a lamb. He was sentenced to be dismissed
from the service at the end of his punishment, and
we saw him no more; but before his departure he said
that an unfair advantage had been taken of him, for he
had fully made up his mind to attack the court until he
saw that it was absolutely useless for him to make the
attempt.

148 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

After the severe lesson he had received, and deprived
of the companionship of Brown, Private Thomas became a
steady, respectable soldier, and eventually a lance-corporal.
He accompanied us to the Ashanti War, but I do not
remember further details of his career.

The French proverb that " it is ridicule that kills "
should ever be borne in mind by an adjutant, for often
some ludicrous punishment will be far more effectual than
constant parading again, drill, or confinement to barracks.
This last punishment is useful, however, for one particular
offence, that of cutting off a moustache, which is sometimes
done for " cheek." The obvious way to meet this is to
confine the man to barracks until the moustache is grown
again. For spitting in the ranks on parade, I always had
one remedy. As soon as the parade was over, the
offender was marched to the guard-room, placed under
the charge of the sergeant of the guard, told to stand at
ease, and ordered to spit for five minutes by the watch.
He came in for much rude chaff from the men, who
thought it a capital opportunity to exercise their wit upon
him, but it was curious what a deterrent effect it had. If
two men were caught talking when at " Attention," they
were similarly taken to the sergeant of the guard, march-
ing side by side. They were then halted, ordered to turn
inwards, so that their faces were almost touching each
other, told to stand-at-ease, and then commanded to talk
for a quarter of an hour. They were not allowed to change
their position in any way, and what they said would pro-
bably not be worth repeating! but the punishment was
very effectual. If a man was brought up for not saluting
an officer, it availed him nothing to plead that he did not
know him by sight ; his punishment was to be placed over

Regimental Prisoners 1 49

the officers' mess-room door, under the charge of a corporal
and to salute every officer as he passed in and out, until
he did know them all by sight ! A rather funny answer,
though, was made by a young Irish soldier when we were
quartered at Plymouth. The officers' guard-room was
exactly opposite to the gate of the private approach,
leading up to the houses of the General commanding the
Division, and of the Admiral commanding the port. Each
of these officers was entitled to the compliment of the
guard being turned out to them, but as naval officers of all
sorts in undress uniforms were constantly passing to the
Admiralty House, and at first sight there is no great
distinction between the different ranks, it was very
necessary to make certain that the sentry knew who was
who. When hearing him repeat his orders, it was always
the custom when he got to the words, " Turn out the guard
to the General and the Admiral," to inquire if he knew
them by sight, and if he was not acquainted with the
latter to ask him if he knew the different naval ranks by
their uniform. On this occasion the sentry had got a
little mixed, and on being asked how he would know
the Admiral, the reply came, " Begorra, I'd know him
by his 8])urs ! "

At one period quite an epidemic broke out of men
tearing up their regimental clothing when brought back
for some crime coupled with desertion, for which they
were likely to be dismissed the service. This pressed
particularly hard upon the unfortunate captains, for the
modus operandi that was pursued when a man deserted
was to hold an auction of his regimental effects, after the
usual Board had been held, and the proceeds were credited
to the Government. After twenty-one days' absence a

1 50 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Eegimental Board was always assembled, and, after hearing
the evidence, the man was duly declared to be a deserter,
when he was struck off the strength of the battalion and
became a civilian until he had been captured, tried by a
court-martial, and sentenced. An anomaly of the service
was that between the man's apprehension and his sentence
the Government refused to clothe him, so the captain of
his company was obliged to see that he was decently
clothed. During this period, however, he received no pay,
out of which stoppages could have been made to recover
the cost of what was supplied to him, so that the captain
had to advance the money out of his own pocket, and ran
the risk of losing it altogether if the man destroyed the
clothing. Otherwise he received the suit back when the
man received prison garments, and could recover any loss
he had sustained when the man returned to duty and again
received pay, perhaps in a year or eighteen months' time.
If, however, the man was sentenced to be discharged, the
captain could only receive back the clothes, and must then
be at any loss there might happen to be,

Fashions hold good in regiments just as they do in
polite society, and the popular fad of the moment was to
destroy the clothing that was issued, and sometimes more
than once. The unfortunate captains were being heavily
mulcted, for there was also a " fad " at headquarters
at that period — started by some foolish Member of
Parliament in the House of Commons — that most
deserters should be dismissed from the service, as
being unworthy to follow the colours they had voluntarily
deserted.

Being determined to put a stop to this practice, the
next man that tore up his clothing was duly measured by

Reginie7ital Prisoners 151

the regimental tailor, and a nice suit of dittoes provided
for him, made out of the very thick brown paper in which
the regimental clothing is annually forwarded from Pimlico,
It is extremely strong, rather shiny, and, I feel sure, is
very warm. It happened to be a hard frost at the time,
and though the prisoner refused at first to wear the
clothing provided — I suppose because it was not fashionable
enough for him — he was stripped naked, and left with
nothing else to put on, and when he was visited again in
about an hour's time it was found he had overcome his
scruples, and was comfortably dressed. It did not matter
how many times he destroyed such suits, for others could
be supplied at short notice, but somehow he seemed to
have lost the desire to do so. At first he had been very
riotous, smashing the window-panes, and kicking at the
guard-room door, so that the riflemen on duty complained
that they could get no rest. Arguing that a horse tears
his clothing because he is too hot in his skin, I presumed
that the man broke the glass because he also was too hot,
and therefore the windows were left unmended, with the
broken pieces on the floor. We took his boots off so that
he would not be able to make so much noise in his
stockings, but he gave up kicking altogether ! He got
rather cautious, too, about walking, as he said he was
afraid of cutting his feet, having no boots on ; but I pointed
out to him that as he had put the glass on the floor him-
self, no doubt he had some good reason for doing so, and
we did not wish to interfere. The colonel got rather
uneasy lest the man should take cold, but an old great-
coat was given to him, and he really enjoyed excellent
health. He lived in his brown paper for some time, and
wore it at his trial by the court-martial, and nearly every

152 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

man off duty came to see him marched to and fro amidst
a running fire of chaff.

It proved an excellent remedy against the practice
that had been carried on, for we never had another case of
tearing up clothing in the guard-room, so long as I
remained with the battalion.

CHAPTER XIII.

War.

When the 2nd Battalion Pdfle Brigade was selected to go
to the Ashanti Campaign in 1873, it was a fortunate
choice, for probably no battalion in the service was at that
time more fitted for bush fighting than that particular
corps. This was due to the excellent training they had
received under that first-rate Light Infantry soldier who
then commanded them, now General Sir Julius Glyn,
K.C.B. He was the best skirmishing drill that I have
ever seen, and I have never met with any regiment so
mobile, or so quick in its movements as the battalion he
commanded. And here I must remark that after nine
years' experience of skirmishing as adjutant of the Eifle
Brigade, and five years' experience of the present " attack "
as a commanding officer, I unhesitatingly give my opinion
that for light infantry work the present system cannot
compare with the old. The " attack " may be all very well
for advancing formed bodies, but it does not take the place
of skirmishing, and should be supplementary to it. The
functions of the two are quite distinct, and should be kept
quite separate from each other and not allowed to interfere
with each other. Look at a change of front, for example.
See the lightning rapidity with which it can be done by
skirmishers, and the cumbrous movement it is with the

154 ^-^^^ Course, the Camp, the Chase

" attack." The enemy will not always do what is
expected of them, or play the game as has been arranged,
and if the system is not capable of sudden changes without
confusion, it cannot be a reliable one.

Our chief had been trained in the very best of schools,
that of actual warfare, and few officers have seen more of
real work than he has. His first experience was gained
in African bush fighting against the Kaffirs and the Boers,
than which there could be no better teaching for skirmish-
ing. He then served all through the Crimean War ; and
this was followed by the Indian Mutiny. From the
lessons he had learned, he was thoroughly convinced that
no battalion was properly trained unless they were at home
when skirmishing in thick covert. Wherever we were
quartered he used to practise us in extended order through
plantations and woods, and hot enough work it was,
struggling along on a summer's day, losing the " pompons "
out of our shakoes and the ramrods out of the rifles, and
very frequently our tempers also ! A battalion trained
under such auspices was invaluable for bush fighting, and
though rewards were bestowed elsewhere, I unhesitatingly
say that, if that battalion had not happened to have been
present, the course of the war must have been much altered,
and the result might have been very different. The true
history of that war has yet to be published.

In the course of the voyage out a most remarkable
instance of courage and sang froid was displayed by one of
our subaltern officers, the Hon. E. Noel. We were drifting
in the " Doldrums," without steaming, waiting until the
time arrived for us to be landed at Cape Coast Castle, and
the Himalaya was rolling heavily. Noel had never
ascended the rigging in his life, but he never stopped

War 155

until he had reached the " truck " on the top of the main-
mast, on which he settled himself comfortably, while three
sailors started after him to tie him up. Noel never took
the slightest notice until the first man was " swarming "
up close to him, and then getting off the truck he let
himself slide down right upon the shoulders of the sailor
below. The latter saw him coming, and had to hug the
mast with all his strength to prevent being knocked off,
and calmly clambering over his back, Noel got below him
and proceeded on his downward journey. The other two
sailors were waiting at the cross-trees to catch him when
he reached them, but Noel was not going to be so easily
caught. He had espied a loose rope, and catching it as
the roll of the ship brought it within his reach, he swung
out far over the sea with the return roll, and, sliding down
well below the would-be captors, got into the rigging, when
the ship swung back again. He had thus beaten all three
sailors, but a fourth sailor, seeing that his manoeuvre was
likely to succeed, started from the deck and caught him
just as he landed safe into the rigging. This was scarcely
fair play, and the honours undoubtedly remained with the
plucky subaltern.

After we had landed we marched up the country for
100 miles to Prahsue, situated on the river Prah, the
boundary of Ashanti land. Every store-box had to be
carried here on the heads of native carriers, and for this
purpose each box was made to weigh just 56 lb. when
full. The best carriers, as a rule, were the women, who
were always willing and cheerful, often with a baby slung
behind their back, in addition to their load. After an
eighteen mile march, as soon as they arrived in camp, the
women would set to work, make fires, and cook their

156 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

provisions, while the men would idle and loll about.
These latter are an extraordinary race. They seem to
obey nothing but " stick." Their own headmen use it
freely ; and it was absolutely necessary to use it sometimes,
or they had no respect for you at all. I had charge at
one time of about 3000 carriers, and the same scene used
to be repeated every morning. They would be squatting
in long rows, each with his load before him, and intently
watching the regiment moving ofiP. They were perfectly
well aware that when the last company started on its
march they had to follow, but they never made the
slightest effort to do so, looking first at one another, and
then at me. In vain did I point towards the vanishing
battalion with my stick, and give them the order to move ;
they only looked at me and at each other. Then I
used to run down a few paces, hitting right and left
indiscriminately, when all would jump up, seize their loads
and march off, as if that had been the signal that they
were waiting for.

When some had to be flogged their behaviour was
very curious. The batch of prisoners would walk gaily
up to the triangles, as if nothing was the matter, laughing
and joking together. While one was being operated upon
the others would scream with laughter, the tears rolling
down their cheeks at the cries and contortions of the
victim, although their own turn was to come immediately
after. Then when the next was tied up, the one who had
just been flogged quite forgot his own sufferings in the
intense amusement that the new-comer afforded him.
Verily, they are not to be judged by the standard of
Europeans.

That perfection had not been arrived at in the

War 157

provision of stores, the following extract from my diary
will show : —

" Wednesday, 21st Jaoiuar?/ (IS 7 4i). — As an instance of
the way things have been managed, only twenty boxes of
medical comforts have been as yet sent up to Prahsue. When
these came to be opened, the first twelve boxes that were
opened contained nothing but certain utensils, usually con-
sidered as necessary articles in a bedroom ! Of the remain-
ing eight boxes, when those that were marked brandy (six
boxes) were opened, they were found to contain brandy bottles
filled with sawdust. The P. M. 0., on our leaving, ordered
our surgeon to take some port wine with him, but on open-
ing the cases they were found to contain but three bottles."

These medical boxes had been for some weeks at
Prahsue, and yet no one had taken the trouble to examine
them ; and it was not till we arrived and required to
replenish our stores, that the discovery of their contents
was made. Yet no inquiry was instituted. The boxes
had not been tampered with on the voyage, but were
exactly as they had been forwarded from Woolwich.

Another entry from the diary gives: — " 12th January.
Broke into a grave in the floor when stepping out of bed.
Went in up to my knee ! " This was rather gruesome.
We were sleeping in a native hut, and they have a custom
of burying their dead under the floors, which is decidedly
a trap for the unwary.

" Monday, 14:th January. — Make a lamp out of a large
snail shell."

On my return home to England, an old shepherd
of my father's made a very it propos remark. He said,
" They tell me. Master Pdchard, that them parts is all
forest, and that nothing else fjrows there. What do

158 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

the natives live on ? " I satisfied his curiosity by telling
him that he was perfectly right about it being all forest,
but that huge snails lived on the leaves and the natives
lived on them. This is literally true to a great extent,
and I have seen snails brought to the market weighing 1|
lb. I never could bring myself to eat one of them, but
those who did so said they were very good, and that they
also made a capital white soup, similar to Potage a la
Beine. The natives dry them in the sun as well as eating
them fresh, and bring them to the market strung on a
stick like sweetmeats on a straw in a confectioner's shop.
When our few candles were exhausted I obtained a good-
sized snail shell — there were plenty to be got — and by filling
it with the grease skimmed off the pot when boiling salt
pork, with some cotton waste for a wick, produced quite
a useful light. A split bamboo made a capital lamp-stand,
not easily overturned when tixed into the ground.

On 31st January the first great fight took place at
Egginassie, which ended in the capture of the town of
Amoaful. On entering the place, one of the first sights to
attract attention were two large piles of iron as big as
small haystacks. On examination these proved to be
entirely composed of leg shackles, for so certain were
the Ashantis of winning the day, they had brought these
in advance to take us all prisoners back to Coomassie. A
pleasant time we should probably have had there, as their
custom is to parade their victims up and down the chief
street with a skewer thrust behind each shoulder-blade, and
another through the cheeks ; and they do not decapitate
them until the sun sets. Fortunately for us our endur-
ance of torture had not to be put to the test. The fight
was a very severe one, and lasted from 8.30 a.m. till 12

War 159

noon without ceasing. It recommenced shortly afterwards,
and continued with greater fury than ever till 2 p.m.,
when it gradually slackened. At 3 p.m. it was nearly
over, and we then sent all the wounded — about 200 —
back to a small village called Quahman, about li mile
to the rear. This was only defended by a small stockade,
hurriedly constructed on a very low bank, with a shallow
ditch, and guarded by thirty West Indian soldiers.

Referring again to the diary, I take the following
extract : — " Is^ February. — During the course of yesterday's
engagement, after the firing was over, at 3.30 I was
ordered to call in the skirmishers from the hill on the
right of Egginassie. I went through the huts, and just as
I was stepping into the bush, a chicken ran out before me.
Thinking it would give me a meal — all our baggage was
miles in the rear — I ran after it, striking at it with my
sword, as I feared to fire my revolver, being afraid the
report would create an alarm. The bush was so thick
that I could not hit the chicken, and I had pursued it
nearly to the top of the hill, when I suddenly heard firing
break out heavily in the rear. Feeling sure that the
Ashanti army was attacking the fort at Quahman, where
the wounded are, I ran straight back to Sir Garnet in the
middle of the village and told him about it. At first he
would not believe me, but I said, ' If Colonel Graves will
accompany me up the road at the back, he will see if I am
right.' Colonel Graves said, ' Perhaps I had better go,
sir ' ; and, as Sir Garnet assented, we started off. I said to
him, ' We had better double, sir ; there's no time to lose,'
so we ran on. Before we got half-way up, he said, ' By
George, you are right ! Now, what men have you got.'
I said, ' F Company and D Company are on the road,

i6o The Course, the Camp, the Chase

they have not been in action to-day.' He answered, ' Send
them at once, and tell them to double.' I did so, and when
I returned he said, 'Who else can you send?' I said,
' This is G Company here, cutting the bush.' He said,
'Send them too.' They fell in and reinforced the others.
They were only just in time, as there was a very slight
stockade, and all the enemy were there. The garrison was
only thirty West Indian soldiers." Such is the record of
how all our wounded, stores, and reserve ammunition were
saved through the instrumentality of a chicken.

The diary has some other interesting incidents also at
the same battle.

" During the fight I was talking to an officer in the
Naval Brigade, when he suddenly stopped speaking,
coughed a good deal, fumbled in his necktie, and produced
a slug out of it. He was wearing a tie with a gold ring,
and the slug had hit the ring and then buried itself in his
tie, without doing further harm." This was a pretty
narrow escape, for after the slug had glanced off the ring
it had cut the necktie to pieces, and but for the resistance
presented by the gold, would have made a very awkward
wound in the throat.

The fighting was very difficult, for the bush was so
intensely thick that it was impossible to see the enemy,
who lay flat down and crawled through it. One soldier
had his arm blown off in my presence, having touched the
barrel of an Ashanti just as the latter fired, and who had
been invisible until then. Thanks to the training under
Sir Julius Glyn, the Kifle Brigade were as much at home
in the bush as the niggers themselves, though the latter
had the advantage of being able to get about more easily,
owing to being stark naked.

War 1 6 1

"A bullet entered into the rifle of a 42nd Highlander
as he held it at the ' present ' preparatory to firing, and
bent the rifle upwards about a foot from the muzzle."

" Many Ashantis were shot out of trees."

"A shell from Eait's battery fell amongst a party of
ten who were carrying off another, and killed all the
eleven persons. One was a woman."

"1st February — Sunday. — Burial party buried 1150
Ashantis." On the second of February we led the advance,
but the enemy made no stand, and we pushed on for
eight miles. The next day we paraded at 5.30 A.M.,
being again in the front. " A most obstinate fight took
place, beginning at 8.45 A.M., and continuing without
intermission till noon, when a flag of truce came in ; the
Ashantis soon began to fire, so the fight went on, though
it now became more of a running fight. A second flag of
truce came in, but left again almost immediately. I
received these flags of truce, blindfolded the bearers, and
passed them on to Sir Garnet. One was the same chief
who came to Foomanah, and had the same gold ornament
on. When he returned I walked out with him beyond
our lines for curiosity, an unwise thing to do, for heads
popped up everywhere, and I saw I was in the middle of
them. He kept calling out ' As-hanti fo, As-hanti fo,'
and they at once sank back into covert, and I returned as
quickly as I could. They did not fire, however, till I
reached our lines again."

They evidently were puzzled by my presence with their
envoy, and thought I was under his segis, or I should never
have got back, as I was within arm's-length of some of them.
The gold ornament referred to was a splendid large plate
of gold, about nine inches square, with a great many figures

1 62 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

on it, and depending from it were a quantity of elephants'
tails. It nearly covered the chief's breast. While we
were halted at a previous station, Foomanah, the same
chief, came there as an envoy and spent some hours,
and on leaving the whole army were formed in two
lines on each side of the road through which he
passed, the regiments presenting arms to him. His
gold ornament was the envy of all, and the subject
of much conversation.

"Finding they could not meet us in the bush, they
took to ambuscades, by which we quickly lost five scouts.
Drove the enemy back to the river Dah, there about 3 ft.
deep and 40 yards wide. Until dark the Ashantis kept
creeping up and firing a shot or two at the sentries, etc.
Learning from some prisoners that nearly 10,000 Ashantis
were all round us, a chain of sentries, about twenty
yards apart, supported by picquets, were put out about a
hundred yards from and all round the camp. A thunder-
storm came on just at dark, and lasted without inter-
mission till 2 A.M. Our baggage had all been left behind
at Aggamamu."

That was indeed an awful night, which can only be
imagined by those who know what a tropical storm is like.
We had only arrived at the river's bank a short time
before dark, and a staff-officer came and gave me orders
to throw out the chain of sentries from the river's bank,
through the bush, and to join on to the West Indian
Eegiment, about a quarter of a mile off. All that he
could tell me was that their left sentry would be found by
a very tall tree that we could just see towering above its
fellows ; a few minutes afterwards daylight had gone, and
it became pitch dark. If it had not been for the vivid

War 163

flashes of lightning it would have been impossible to have
found our way, as the bush, through which we slashed a
path as we went, was full of fallen trees in addition to the
usual thick growth. It took a long time to get the
sentries posted, but the lightning was very frequent, and
at each flash we gained a few yards, and then halted for
the next, ever keeping a sharp look-out for the tall tree
which was our goal. At length I had the satisfaction of
hearing the challenge of the West Indian sentry, and the
task was complete. Twice during the night I had to visit
the sentries, on one occasion being accompanied by Colonel
Warren, and this time, thinking that my clothes might be
less soaking, if I left them under shelter, I rolled them
up, and placed the bundle under a tree I was shelter-
ing under, and proceeded only in my flannel shirt. When
I returned, however, it was to find that the downpour
had at length got through the almost impenetrable
leaves of my tree, making a large pool of water at the
foot, and floating in the middle of which was my bundle
of clothes !

"A cask of rum arrived at 3 A.M., which was at
once distributed." Never was anything more welcome !
We had had no food since breakfast the previous
morning, and soaked as we were to the skin, that tot
of rum was most vivifying. It was strictly impartially
distributed amongst the officers and men, and it was
only a tiny drop that fell to the lot of each, but how
welcome !

At the same time when I received the orders to place
the sentries, the staff-officer also handed over to me an
Ashanti prisoner who had just been captured, with orders
that I was responsible for his safe keeping. I am afraid

164 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

we had some altercation about that prisoner, for we were
dead tired. This was the 3rd February. I had been up
day and night ever since the 30th, and for the two
previous nights had never had time to lie down at all, so
it is scarcely to be wondered at that the additional charge
of a naked, slippery prisoner was not very welcome. In
vain did I suggest that those who had caught him should
keep him. My superior officer did not see that at all, as
he wished to rid himself of him as soon as possible, and
retire to the hampers of refreshments that accompanied
the staff. " Well, sir," I said, " if I am to take care of
him, I'll take good care he doesn't escape " — and I did so.
Before starting off with the sentries I saw him securely
tied to a sapling, under the charge of the sergeant of the
guard that was placed over the ammunition in the middle
of the camp, and I gave orders to the sentry to shoot him
on the spot if he endeavoured to make his escape. We
chose a thin, young tree, and bringing his elbows behind it,
tied them securely together, so that he could vary his
position by standing up or sitting down. All that night
the rain pelted down on the unfortunate prisoner, and the
next morning as we were marching off I told the sergeant
of the guard to release him and bring him on. Directly
afterwards I was hailed with the shout of " Sir." " Well,
what is it ? " I replied. " Please, sir, the prisoner can't
move," was the answer. I went up, and, sure enough, he
was so stiff with cold and wet, and the cramped position,
that though the cords had been removed he could not stir.
" Take a couple of men, and run him up and down till
his circulation comes back," was my order. This was
promptly done, and it had its humorous side, to see two
riflemen trottino: backwards and forwards with the naked

War 165

savage between them. He was all right directly, and
very grateful for a little ship's biscuit, which arrived at our
first halt.

" Aith February, Wednesday. — The engineers and sailors
built a narrow bridge across the Dah last night, which we
crossed at 7 a.m., and immediately became engaged with
the enemy."

A very hard day it was, too, for us. We were in front
as before, and were engaged directly we were over the
bridge. We had flattered ourselves that the heavy rain
might have rendered their powder damp, or prevented their
guns from working freely, but they had very simple covers
made of antelope skins, that were perfectly water-proof,
and that answered their purpose admirably. There was
one position that was held by one of our companies for
more than an hour, and which was desperately attacked
by masses of the enemy.

" Before reaching Ordahsu, we were a long time halted
at one place, as the Ashantis made a most determined
attack on Lieutenant Taylor's Company, on the right flank.
A thickly wooded valley ran up to the top of the ridge,
and the Ashantis came up in masses for a long time.
Our men were lying down on the crest of the ridge, firing
down upon them, and we did not get a man hit, although
their fire was very heavy and continuous. All their shots
went over our heads. The men fired their seventy rounds
away, and I brought up a fresh supply, and they fired most
of them too. Their shoulders and cheeks were very much
knocked about by the recoil."

"Tired 20,000 rounds to-day."

" My pony was struck on the saddle-flaps by a bullet."

" Sergeant Armstrong, the master cook, was following

1 66 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

in rear with the bearers, who were carrying the camp
kettles, Sergeant Armstrong being the only armed man
amongst them. They were attacked by three Ashantis,
who commenced firing at them, so the sergeant proceeded
to make the natives lie down between the kettles (which
formed a sort of barricade), and then shot two of the
Ashantis with his rifle, on which the third bolted into
the bush."

For this feat the sergeant cook was awarded the Dis-
tinguished Service Medal, He was a remarkably good
shot, and a few years afterwards was the best shot in
the army, winning the gold medal and £20 that is annually
awarded to the winner of this distinction.

" When engaged in cutting the bush with his company
on the left front of the village of Ordahsu, the enemy at
the same time keeping up a hot fire about seventy yards ofi",
Private Taylor suddenly saw three Ashantis some fifteen
yards off in a tree, about three feet from the ground ;
Taylor shot one, and one of the others then ran away,
but the third, thinking Taylor did not see him, covered
himself with some banana leaves, and proceeded to load
his rifle ; Taylor then rushed at him with his cutlass,
and when he got near, the Ashanti, who proved to be
a chief, turned round to fire at him, but Taylor being
too quick for him, ran him right through and killed
him."

Private Taylor was recommended for the Victoria
Cross for his gallantry, and was awarded the Distinguished
Service Medal. That evening we captured Coomassie, and
we looked forward to a well-earned rest. It was not to be,
however, for about 10.30 p.m. the town was set on fire,
and we did not get it under until 4 a.m.

War 1 6 7

lu Coomassie I saw the same chief with the gold
ornament that had come down as envoy to Foomanah,
and afterwards with the flag of truce.

" I saw two Ashantis skulking in the high reed grass,
and then come out into the road near where G Com-
pany's arms were piled, and no sentry over them. I
noticed that one of them had the well-known gold orna-
ment on that he had at Foomanah. I accordingly stalked
him, made a rush, and caught him by the right wrist with
both hands. "We had a tremendous struggle, but so long
as I could hold his right wrist he could not draw his big
knife from its sheath on his left side. The other man
kept running round, and I had to keep the man I had
hold of between me and the second, for fear he should
stick me. They kept up a great jabbering, while I kept
yelling for help, but the men were all inside the house
and did not hear at first. Then a few ran out, and I
handed over my prisoner to a guard, and sent him on to
Sir Garnet Wolseley. A few minutes afterwards the guard
returned without the prisoner. I asked them what had
become of him. The corporal said that he had taken
him to Sir Garnet, who made him a speech about
the clemency of Queen Victoria, and then told them
to let him go. I could scarcely believe it, and asked
him if he knew Sir G. by sight. He said he did,
and I made him describe him, and he did so all right.
I was so sorry."

We made a very hurried stay in Coomassie. The
rains had begun, so the Palace was undermined and blown
up, and the town set on fire and burned to the ground.
" One place that we had passed dry-shod two days before
we had to wade through up to our hips in water, and the

1 68 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

mules, horses, etc., who had to go by another path, were
obliged to swim. When we reached the river Dah, where
we halted for the night, the water had risen so high that
it reached up to our knees in crossing the bridge, and the
natives, who had to carry the loads through the river,
were out of their depth in the middle of the river."

On Thursday, 12 th February, my pony died. It was
impossible to feed him during the five days' fighting, and
he never recovered the effects of the enforced starvation.
He was a great loss to me. As I was adjutant, and
entitled to a charger, I applied for compensation for his
loss on active service, and was refused, on the ground
that he was not shot ! How easily this could have been
remedied if only I had known in time. In due time we
arrived at Cape Coast Castle with 456 privates instead
of 651, with which we started. Several died on their way
home, and others during the course of the next twelve
months, and in a very few years' time not a single soldier
remained in the battalion who went through the hardships
of that campaign. Such is the virulence of the West
African malarial fever, and so long does it remain in the
system that, after fighting against it for ten years, such a
severe attack again prostrated me as to compel me to
retire from the service, and seek convalescence in the
South of France. It was remarkable, too, that during
the war and the following summer I never had a single
attack of fever, and imagined I had escaped altogether, and
even rode the winners of two hurdle-races within one
month of the day of landing in England. The poison
was there, however, and when once it broke out it was
constantly making its unwelcome appearance for years
afterwards.

War 1 69

Before finally taking leave of the Ashanti War,
mention must be made of the wonderful work performed
by the " scouts." These were picked warriors from
different tribes, but chiefly Houssas, and the tales of
Fenimore Cooper anent the Eed Indians did not exceed
the performances of these trackers. Often the path was
covered with dead leaves, or moss, that left not the
slightest apparent trace, and yet a track never escaped
their wonderful sight. I had been used all my life to
trap vermin, and to fish for the keen-sighted trout of the
Northern streams, and my eyes were young and quick to
observe slight signs, and yet I could not always detect
the imprint, even when pointed out to me. The moment
the footstep was observed it was carefully examined, and
in a few seconds the scout would be satisfied as to what
the business had been of the person who had made that
footprint. By the length of the stride, and the part of
the foot that made the deepest impression, was he able to
come to a correct judgment. Was the stride compara-
tively short, and did the heel and ball of the foot appear
most marked, then the man had been carrying a load, and
need not be considered. If the weight had been equally
distributed over the whole foot, the track rather wander-
ing, and the stride quite short, it had been made by a man
who was just sauntering along without any special object.
If, however, the strides varied and were rather long, the
weight on the toes, with every here and there an especially
deep mark on the toes, that man was on the war-path
and on the alert, and must be accounted for. Some-
times the track would be followed into the bush for
a few yards, and back again ; or it might turn down
another bush path, and finally approach a village ; or, as

170 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

most frequently happened, the track got fresher, and as
the sudden movement of the hidden warrior in taking
aim at last betrayed him, the scout threw up his rifle and
took a snap-shot at his adversary, the two weapons going
off almost simultaneously. Sometimes one was shot, and
sometimes the other. It was a service of the utmost
danger, but the scouts took the keenest delight in it, and
seldom failed to account for their man. I remember
one occasion where, after following a track for about
a hundred yards, the scout showed where the other had
sat down on the bare spur of a cotton tree ; a naked
savage sitting upon a wooden Windsor chair would have
almost left as much trace, but the tracker was satisfied
that the other had then ceased to be " on duty," and
was just resting preparatory to going home. He was
quite right, and within two miles the Ashanti had gone
into a village — presumably to breakfast, and nearly all
the time I could see nothing. It was too disheartening
that the scout could follow signs at almost a run, which
I had nearly to go down upon my knees to discover
at all. They were noble fellows, and knew not the
meaning of fear, and, like all savages, uncontaminated
by mixing with whites, had the most perfect, gentle
manners, until roused by excitement.

There was one thing that struck me very much, and
that was the cry of a baby was scarcely ever heard
in the land, and even in their play the children were
almost quite silent. Amongst our carriers tiny babies were
very numerous ; we also saw numbers in the villages,
both of Fantees, Assins, and Ashantis, and yet it was
a rare thing to hear a sound amongst them. If a
child did make a whine it was instantly hushed by

War 1 7 1

the mother. This told its own tale of the constant
fear of attack in which these tribes lived, and how
their very existence must have often depended upon
their powers of concealment. A child that was given
to crying would, I suspect, have but very short shrift,
and it was a striking example of the survival of the
fittest.

CHAPTER XIV.

Spain.

In racing, as in all other affairs of life, it is very needful
to study the bearings in every direction, but it has one
advantage, that there are rules and conditions very clearly
laid down which govern most occasions. If any one is so
careless as to neglect these, the penalty has to be paid to
the benefit of the more careful. That genius, to be a
success, must be painstaking, is one of the truest of
proverbs. How necessary it is to leave no detail un-
noticed, the following anecdote may help to point out : —
In the summer of 1876, when travelling to some races in
Spain with the late Lord Edward Somerset (the then most
efficient starter to the Gibraltar Jockey Club) and some
other friends, it was proposed that we should endeavour,
on our return, to get up a summer meeting at Gibraltar.
Two of us had each bought a young horse at the Easter
fairs at Jerez and Seville the year before, and it was pro-
posed that we should have a match between the colts,
who had both recently been broken. Though mine had
never had a gallop, I was glad to have a chance of trying
his capabilities, and eagerly assenting, asked what weights
the horses should carry. The reply was, " Let us have the
lightest weight I can ride," and so it was settled. The
match was run off, each carrying 11 st. 11 lb., and I won
easily by a neck on " Jerezano." At the following autumn

Spain 173

meeting, my former opponent came up just before we started
for the "Spanish Maiden," and said, "' Jerezano' is entered on
the card as ' English and Spanish." ' " It is quite correct," I
replied. " And I ran ' El Cid ' against you at even weights
in the match ! " he rejoined. As his horse was Spanish
and Arab, he ought, according to the Spanish Maiden
weights — which were the usually accepted standard — to
have received 14 lb. from " Jerezano." He, however, had
suggested the lightest weight he could ride, and, having
made no mention of an allowance for difference of breed,
his proposal was duly accepted. It shows clearly, how-
ever, how necessary it is never to act without due thought.
It was rather curious that it should be my fate to stand
in the path of " El Cid." He changed hands afterwards,
and was renamed " Saracen." One day, when out hunting
the following spring, his new owner said to me, " Do you
know the age of ' Saracen ? ' " I believe he is only five
years old. Now it so happened that previous to buying
" Jerezano," two years before, I had myself inspected
" Saracen " amongst some other young horses of his owners
— with a view to purchasing him. I passed him over, but
had a pretty distinct recollection that he was then four
years old. I replied, therefore, that I believed him to be
six years. " I don't think he is," replied his owner, " but
I wish you would look at his mouth, and tell me what you
think." Information is never thrown away, so I jumped
off my horse in an instant, and inspected the teeth of
" Saracen." " He is six years," was my verdict. " I don't
think he is," said my friend, " at anyrate I shall chance it."
However, the horse changed hands again, and later in the
spring was entered in the Spanish Maiden as " five years."
" Jerezano " was also entered, and, in a desperate race

174 ^-^^^ Cozirse, the Camp, the Chase

between the pair from the distance, " Saracen " won by
half a length. I had ridden my best to win, as I par-
ticularly did not want to have to object if possible, but, of
course, there was now no help for it, as the backers of
" Jerezano " were very numerous. Mr. Prideaux-Brune,
the then owner of " Jerezano " was much averse to lodging
an objection, but he saw the necessity of it when it was
pointed out to him that the claims of the backers must be
considered. The stewards, therefore, telegraphed to the
breeder of the horse at Seville to inquire the age, and
before the meeting was over the answer was received, " six
years." He was, therefore, at once disqualified, and
" Jerezano " received the race.

This partly made up for bad luck with the latter horse
at the steeplechase meeting in the spring. He was a jSne
fencer, but, as the riding was very wild, I was keeping a
clear course on the extreme left, not having been able to
get my favourite place on the right. It may, perhaps,
here be mentioned that I always endeavoured, when riding
" jump " races, to carry out some excellent hints from the
celebrated Jem Mason, given when I was a beginner more
than thirty years ago. They were very good, and often
proved of invaluable benefit. " Always," said he, " if
possible, take your place on the right of the horses, for
nine horses out of ten swerve to the left, so if one does
swerve, it will be away from you. Another thing is to
jump off and make the running over the first three fences
or so, till they have settled into their places. It ensures
you being in a good position, and there is plenty of time
afterwards to take a pull in a long steeplechase. If, how-
ever, you cannot get away in. front, go steady at the start,
and let them get over the first fence or two before you try

Spain 175

to take your place, for there may be a scrimmage at the
jump, and you will probably be able to steer clear of it."
Such advice was good, sound common sense, and founded
on great experience.

On this occasion, however, there was one of the most
dangerous " fields " in which any one can be called to ride.
There were a number of youthful jockeys, quite unaccus-
tomed to riding races of any kind, and with no practice at
jumping fences at speed. They were highly excited, and
mounted on horses as inexperienced as themselves in
fencing at a fast pace. When horse and jockey are alike
ignorant, they become a very dangerous pair, for the man
never remembers that there is any one else in the race
besides himself, and treats a fence as if it was as wide as
a field when hunting. He will change the spot he has
selected to jump half a dozen times before he reaches
the fence, and every time he alters his mind, he crosses
others, and throws them out of their stride. His hesitat-
ing style is certain to communicate itself to his " mount,"
which alters its pace, and this again upsets the horses
immediately behind, who probably get over with a
scramble, even if they avoid a collision. When travelling
with the velocity of an express train — and this is the rate
at which the fences are jumped — a very slight slackening
of speed in front causes great confusion behind. In a
small way this is shown by watching a column of troops
on the march along a road. A very slight check to the
leading " fours " rapidly augments as it affects those
following ; andlong before it has reached the middle of the
column, the men are brought to a complete halt.

Horses that have not been well schooled to jump at a
fast pace, and in close company, also add to the risks

176 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

inseparable from steeplechasing, for unless they have been
taught by an expert they try to stop their pace in the last
few strides, and to lob over in the sticky way they
have generally been accustomed to when hunting. One of
the most dangerous mounts, as a rule, is a well-trained
hunter that has not been ridden in a " grass " country,
and has had no schooling for steeplechasing. He may be
a most safe conveyance, if allowed to jump the fences in
the careful way that he has been accustomed to. When
asked to take them at his best pace he gets flustered, tries
to steady himself, and generally ends by taking off either
too soon or half a stride too late, and the result either
way is the same if the fence is stiff. A bold, raw, natural
jumper, with an experienced capable jockey on his back, is
often a far safer mount than the steady hunter.

At the same time I do not want for one moment to
decry the usefulness of the hunting field, in training steeple-
chase horses. On the contrary, I have the very highest
opinion of its value, but then it must be supplemented by
plenty of practice over steeplechase fences at a racing pace.
In the hunting field they learn to jump all sorts of
obstacles in all sorts of ground, and to rise at them when
they are tired. They learn, too, to gallop in deep ground
carrying a heavy weight, and not to " shut up " when leg-
weary, for the excitement of the chase inspirits them to
bear fatigue just as it does the riders. A horse should be
perfect in jumping fences slowly before he is ever asked to
go fast at them, for we all have to learn to walk before we
can run. A steeplechase horse that began his education
in the hunting field and perfected it over galloping fences
is one of the safest mounts, that a jockey can have, for he
is never at a loss and can scarcely be trapped.

Spain 177

In the steeplechase referred to above, I had been able
to keep clear of the confusion that reigned supreme at the
first two jumps, but in approaching the third, an Irish
bank, with apparently a clear course before us, " Jack o'
Lantern," who was well in front on the right hand,
suddenly swerved across and almost stopped. He took the
fence very slowly indeed. I was jammed in on both sides
and could not possibly pull outside him, and " Jerezano "
had to dig his toes in the ground to prevent knocking the
other horse head over heels. The bank was very narrow
on the top, and though the horse made a gallant effort it
was too much for him, and down we came. Having kept
hold of the reins I was on him again almost directly, when
the huntsman of the Calpe Hounds, Charles Payne, who
was standing on the far side, held on to the bridle, begging
me to wait and catch my breath. It was all done in the
most good-natured way possible, but there the training of
the hunting field appeared, for he never thought of the
distance his delaying me was causing me to lose. At last
he was induced to let go, but by that time the leaders
were a long way ahead, and it appeared a very hopeless
task to overhaul them. " Jerezano " stuck gamely to his
work, and gradually overhauling the field one by one, he
was almost at the quarters of the leader when the last
fence had to be jumped. The bad luck, however, still
continued. Half-way between the last fence and the
winning-post I made my effort, and if we had had a
straight run in, we should have won. There was an angle,
however, to be turned, and " Jack o' Lantern " — the very
horse that had caused the fall — was on the inside.
"Jerezano " had almost drawn level with him, when in turn-
ing the flag " Jack o' Lantern " ran wide, boring us out, right

178 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

on to a large ant-hill, which caused my horse to blunder, and
gave the other a length lead again. There were scarcely
thirty yards further to go, and though we made up some
of the ground lost, " Ganado for un 'pescuezo " (won by a
neck), is the fiat recorded against " Jerezano " in the Spanish
Guide to the Turf.

Another instance of the truth of the saying that
" knowledge is power " occurred at an autumn meeting
at Jerez-de-la Frontera — the Newmarket of Spain. S*"- F.
E. da Cunha, a Portuguese gentleman, had been running
some horses with great success until a short time previously,
when they seemed to have somewhat lost their " form,"
His trainer and I were both staying for the meeting at the
house of Mr. H. Davies, who possessed the most powerful
racing stable in Spain, and who, with his brother, was
mainly instrumental in making racing such a flourishing
institution as it then was. Having nothing particular to do
we strolled down in the afternoon to their Bodega, and it
was suggested that we should go and look at the horses from
Portugal, who were close by. Their trainer was having
some of them clipped, for they had grown shaggy winter
coats, and he fancied, which was very probably true, that
the loss of form was partly due to their heavy covering of
hair. We idly watched a horse, " Gigante," being clipped,
and then I sauntered into the stable to look at the others.
In the far corner stood a box with a wooden partition
about four feet high, and iron railings above. In this box
was a very speedy horse, " Perchance," who had already
had his coat removed. Whilst gazing at him he made a
little run at me across the box, laying back his ears and
drawing back his lips as he made a bite in the air. With-
out thinking of anything particular I put the palm of my

Spain 1 79

hand against the railing, and he repeated the bite, and this
time I happened to catch sight of his open mouth.
Instantly I saw he was a five-year-old, and it flashed across
me that he was entered for the races next day as a four-year-
old, and had been so running all that year. To make
perfectly certain I was right I put up my hand again, and
the horse repeated the " snap " as before, and then in a
state of excitement I sought my host, who was standing
just outside. Slipping my arm in his, and drawing him on
one side, he was made acquainted with the startling
discovery, and very speedily we returned to the box to
verify the fact. " What shall we do ? " said Davies. " Let
us call your brother," was my reply, he being also present,
and the secretary of the race meeting. " Dolly " Davies
was quickly called, and we gazed at one another in
dumfoundered silence, feeling very like a band of con-
spirators. In the meantime the trainer and both jockeys
belonging to the stable, Alfred Wood and Harry Adams,
were superintending the clipping, in happy ignorance of
what was going on in their stable a few yards only from
them. We all agreed that as the trainer was also a guest
of Davies, we must give him a hint of the discovery, and
then leave him to act as he thought best. But how could
we best do this was the question ? We could hardly
believe that he was unaware of the real age of the horse,
but under the circumstances it would be most unpleasant
to have an expose, and if he really did not know about it,
it was only kind to give him a loophole of escape. A
happy thought suddenly occurred to me. There had quite
lately been a considerable scandal about a prominent
owner who had knowingly run a horse of wrong age, had
been found out, and warned off the turf. " Suppose we

i8o The Course, the Camp, the Chase

bring this incident up," I suggested, " and then say how
unfortunate it would be if any of our horses turned out to
be improperly described. Then we can propose to go and
look at them. We can begin with yours, Davies, and
then come here."

The idea was approved of and promptly carried out.
Davies skilfully introduced the subject, and the trainer so
eagerly caught at it, in such an unembarrassed way, that
we were staggered in our belief of his complicity in a
fraud.

When we reached Davies's stable, Everett, his very
clever trainer-jockey, was just giving them their evening
feed, and his look of surprise, when we said we had come
to look at their mouths, remains in my mind as vividly as
ever. However, when he was reminded of the recent
disqualification and " warning off," he took great interest
in the proceedings. The horses were soon gone through
and found to be all right, and then we started off for the
Portuguese stable. Just before leaving, Davies said in a
very low voice to Everett, " Meysey-Thompson has just
■ found out that ' Perchance ' is five years old instead of
four years. Do you think they know anything about it ? "
The look of keen intelligence that swept across his face
struck me as one of the most remarkable that I ever saw.
" No," he replied, after a moment's thought, " I hardly think
they do, but one can never tell." On arriving at the other
stable we first inspected " Gigante." " All right, four
years," was the verdict. The next horse to come out was
" Perchance." The instant the trainer opened his mouth
a shock seemed to strike him, and dropping the horse's
jaw, he turned to us with a scared look, exclaiming : " Oh,
gracious ! I knew nothing of it." " Why," what is the

Spain 1 8 1

matter ? " we all exclaimed at once. " See for yourselves,"
he said. " Is he the wrong age ? " we queried. Then
Davies spoke up. " Well, I will tell you the truth. The
fact is we found out just now, while the horses were being
clipped, that ' Perchance ' had the teeth of a five-year-old,
so we planned this inspection to give you a chance. Do
you mean to say that you did not know anything about
it ? " " I'll swear I did not," he replied ; and knowing him
very intimately, and that his word was thoroughly to be
relied upon, we were perfectly satisfied as to his innocence.
" Do the lads know about it ? " we then asked him. " I
don't know, I am sure," was his reply ; " but we will soon
find out." Alfred Wood, the head jockey, was then called
up, and the question put to him : " How old is ' Perchance ' ?
" Pour years," he replied, with a look of amazement ; " why,
he is in the colt race " (which was for three-year-olds and
four-year-olds only). " Look at his mouth," said the
trainer. Wood did so, and then turning round with a
grin, he said, " Why, he is five years old." " Yes," replied
the other ; " did you not know ? " " No," returned Wood,
" we bought him last year as a three-year-old, and I never
looked in his mouth since." " Does Adams know ? "
queried the trainer. " I doubt it," replied Wood. " Here,
Adams ! " he shouted ; " how old is ' Perchance ' ? " Four
years," was his reply. " Well, see his mouth," said Wood.
" He is five," remarked the other, after a lengthened
examination. " Did you know before now ? " was then
put to him ; but just as his brother- jockey had stated, he
also had never thought of looking at the colt's mouth. On
further inquiry into the matter, it turned out that a
mistake had been unintentionally made in the age of the
colt in the certificate that bad been then given, for his

1 82 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

breeder, who was an honourable man, had offered him
openly for sale as a four-year-old in the previous year,
and I had myself then gone to look at him as one of that
age. Of course the case had to be brought before the
notice of the Jockey Club, and though everyone was
exonerated from blame in the matter, he was disqualified
for all the races that he had won that year, which, with
the bets, came to a very considerable sum. What his
owner felt the most was having to return a very coveted
trophy, the Jockey Club Cup, which he had won, and
on the strength of which win he had just given a very
large dinner party to the chief patrons of racing. The
cup had then been a very conspicuous ornament in the
dining-room, and been very much admired.

Poor " Perchance's " misfortunes, however, were not
yet over. He was destined to lose the chief prize of the
ensuing meeting, for which he was properly entered at
last, as the entries did not close till the day after the
discovery of his right age. This was the Premio del Rey
— " The King's Prize " — a race that was very much sought
after and valued.

CHAPTER XV.

How Races were Won and Lost.

The last meeting held before this had been the Autumn
Meeting at Seville. "We had here run a three-year-old
colt, " Solitario," who had lately made a most sensational
debut at the Cadiz Autumn Meeting. His owner, Don
Thomas Heredia, had shown this colt to me in the previous
June when stopping at Malaga, en route to Gibraltar, from
the races at Granada. He was then just being handled,
and though Heredia had written to say he should like to
run him in the autumn, I begged him not to do so,
thinking there was no time to get him ready, and that he
had better be kept until the following spring. For this
reason he had not come with the rest of Heredia's horses
to the earlier autumn meetings. Later on, however, he
again wrote and said he would send him to Cadiz, and
hoped I would ride him there, if I did not mind doing so.
It had never occurred to me that a colt, brought up all his
life on hard food, and never getting any grass, would take
a shorter time in getting " fit " than a young horse in
England, who has been living in a grass field. The
consequence was, that when we arrived at Cadiz, a few
days before the races, and took the horses out to work, I
did not think a great deal about the colt, having many
others to see after, and imagined that his chance of winning
a race was nil.

184 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

If I had not been so certain of there not having been
time enough to prepare " Solitario," I ought to have been
impressed with the style in which he kept up with a very-
fast thoroughbred mare, " Lady Ehzabeth," when we rattled
them along in a five-furlongs spin. I was thinking of
other matters, however, and, though I noticed how well he
moved and how gallantly he took hold of his bit to the
end, I thought no more about him, and pulling up " Lady
Elizabeth," returned to superintend the work of the re-
maiuder. I did not even get on to " Solitario's " back
until I weighed out for his race, which was for maidens
only. Both Heredia and I each had a " pony " on a horse
called " The Eush," who had just previously been beaten
by a head for the Spanish Maiden at Gibraltar, finishing
in front of " Jerezano," on whom I had had the mount, and
we had not a single penny on " Solitario." The latter ran
extremely raw in his race, " yawing " all over the course,
and before we had reached the first turn we were the
absolute last. Half-way down the course, on the far side,
we were several lengths behind, and I could see " The
Eush " making the running in front, and going quite at his
ease. " Just what was to be expected," was my thought.
However, it came into my mind that Heredia had told me
that " Solitario " was very much afraid of the whip, so just
to see what effect it had I commenced to " threaten " him
with it, and almost instantly he shot up to the rearmost
horses.

" Hulloh," I said to myself, " let me see what you can
do," and sitting down on him commenced to " drive " him
in earnest. He very soon worked his way through the
rearmost horses, and when we turned into the straight only
" The Eush " and " Aquila " were in front, ridden by two

How Races were Won and Lost 185

professionals, of whom the jockey of the former was going
at his ease, and holding the latter on the rails. " Solitario "
was coming up fast, hand-over-hand, and when well inside
the " distance " we were level with the others, though
Blanchard, on " The Eush," was so busy in watching the
other that he never noticed us draw up. " Look out for
Mr. Thompson," yelled the jockey of "Aquila," and,
glancing over his shoulder, Blanchard began driving his
horse to the utmost ; but " Sohtario " won by a length,
with a length and a half between second and third. The
rest of the field were beaten off. Yet it was an unsatis-
factory win after all ! All our money was on the second
horse, and how easy it would have been to have lost the
race ! " Solitario " proceeded to win a match the same
afternoon, in which I rode him again, and the following
afternoon won two more races, though, as the weights were
too low to allow me to ride, Adams had the " mounts " on
him. From Cadiz we travelled to Seville, and as the races
at the former place had been postponed for a few days, on
account of bad weather, we had to leave by the late train,
after the races were finished, in order to get to Seville in
time. We were travelling a considerable party of friends
— about sixteen in all — consisting of married couples,
young ladies, and officers from Gibraltar, besides jockeys.
Our rooms had been ordered beforehand, and when we
arrived at Seville Station, at 2.30 A.M., we anticipated no
difficulty, as arrangements had been made for conveyances
to meet us. On arriving at the private lodgings, however,
we were very much taken aback by finding one long room
set apart for us, with sixteen beds side by side, and no
screens whatever between them ! Such was the difference
between Spanish and English customs. It had especially

1 86 The Course^ the Camp, the Chase

been mentioned what the party consisted of, and that we
were all " Ingleses," for, knowing the country well, we
knew the sort of accommodation that might be prepared
for us if we were thought to be natives of Spain, To go
out to look for lodgings, when very sleepy, at 3 a.m. in a
Spanish town, is not a very pleasant proceeding ; but we
young men of the party were ruthlessly turned out, and
had to make the best arrangements we could !

" Solitario " was engaged, on the first day, in the great
three-year-old race ; but as he had to meet, at only 6 lb.
difference, a remarkably good colt, " II Barbiere," who was
not only the best of his year, but the best that had been
seen for many years, we knew that there was no chance of
winning the race. I was not anxious to run him at all for
it, but Heredia wished to start, so Adams received the
strictest orders not to make a race of it, and, the moment
the colt had had enough, to stop riding him, and let the
others fight it out for second place. Even then no one
had the slightest inkling, except our own stable, how good
" Solitario " really was, for he had been running in very
moderate company, and when he had met a pretty good
horse he had always had a considerable allowance of
weight. Nor had he ever been allowed to win by very
much distance. The weight was again too light for me to
get to, for it was hard work to waste sufficiently to ride
9 St. 10 lb., and now "Solitario" only carried 9 st. 2 lb.
Adams, therefore, had the mount, but we had confidence
that he would ride to orders. What was our horror, how-
ever, to see him jump off, and try to cut " II Barbiere "
down from the start ! Forcing the pace he kept him at
it, and the pair were lengths away in front of every other
horse, " II Barbiere " finally winning by a length and a

How Races were Won and Lost 187

half, all out, after a very severely fought finish. Very
blue were our looks when we met afterwards, and very
much ashamed of himself was the jockey, who, it is scarcely
needless to say, was promptly told he need never look for
another mount from our stable. It seems that, with the
vanity of a youth, he thought if he could steal a start he
might just beat " II Barbiere," and never regarded his
orders or our wishes in the least. As to stealing a start
from Everett, he had not 100 to 1 chance to do so, for he
was a first-rate jockey and never to be caught napping.
Our hopes of a cowp were gone, for now at last the
horse's form was thoroughly exposed, and it was evident to
everyone that the colt was only about 10 lb. behind his
rival. What was to be done ? The horse was no worse
for his race, and getting fitter every day, but November
had already begun and the racing season was almost over.
I suggested that our only chance was to put him into the
Consolation Handicap, on the last day of the meeting, and
get him beaten there, and trust to luck to pull a race off
at Jerez, the last meeting of the year.

We accordingly entered him for the race, and Mr.
Davies' " Barbian," a smart four-year-old, was also entered ;
the handicapper allotting the weights — " Barbian," four
years, 10 st. 2 lb. ; " Solitario," three years, 10 st. 3 lb.
Nothing else cared to start against us, and we were the
only two that weighed out. Going to Heredia before we
started, I said to him, " Now look here, if possible, we must
not win this race ; it is not worth winning, and if we do
we shall never have another chance." " Can you win," he
asked ; " if so, do win it." He dearly loved seeing his
colours in front, even for a very insignificant prize.
" Well," I said, " it is just this. If I ride him one way we

1 88 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

shall win, for ' Barbian ' cannot stay. But if I ride him
another way I think ' Barbian ' will win. Of course I shall
not stop him, and shall win if I can, but he will run at
least 7 lb. worse than if I ride him the other way." " Oh,
do win if you can," he repeated. " Never mind this race,"
I said, " it is not worth winning, and we are pretty sure to
pick up a better stake at Jerez if we are beaten here." At
last he consented that I should ride as I liked. As soon
as we started, as I expected, Everett drew back to my
quarters and remained there, so steadying " Solitario " and
keeping him only to a three-parts speed gallop we went on
to the distance. Here Everett drew up to me, and it being
no part of my plan to make the most of my horse, I
allowed Everett to draw level before I began to ride
" Solitario." We had a capital finish, " Solitario " showing
even more speed than I expected, and we were only beaten
by a head. On returning together to weigh in, Everett
slapped his thigh and exclaimed joyfully, " Beaten you
again, Mr. Thompson, beaten you again !" " Yes, Everett,"
I answered, " it is your turn this time, but it will be mine
next !"

The handicapper was delighted with the result of his
work, and said to me, " I shall make the handicap for the
King's Prize at Jerez from your two horses. I shall give
you two even weights, and I should not wonder if you run
a dead heat. That will be allowing 1 lb. for the short
head." " That will be about right," I said, delighted that
he had not penetrated our little scheme. " I should not
wonder if we do run a dead heat." Nothing, however,
would have more surprised me than if we had done so !

Without the smallest idea of winning the race, I rode
" Solitario " down to the starting-post at Jerez, and though

How Races were Won and Lost 189

it was not a very large field that started, they were all
winners of many good races. Everett, on " Barbian," had
drawn No. 1 on the rails, while I was No. 3. The moment
the flag fell I sent " Solitario " to the front solely with the
idea of showing him up well in front, and intending to
steady him and draw him back as soon as he was headed,
in the hopes of getting better into a handicap later on in
the meeting. Before a hundred yards had been traversed

1 was able to slip across on to the rails and take Everett's
place there, as " Barbian " had begun slowly and was a length
or two in rear. At the first turn " The Gift," an aged horse,
in at a very light weight — in fact, we were giving him

2 St. 1 lb. — came up on the whip hand, and to save
pulling at my horse, to keep him close in to the rails, I
allowed the other to get a neck in front, so that he
shouldered me round ; and we went on together in a
similar manner, round the second and third posts, till we
entered the straight. All this time I had been expecting
something to come up and wrest the lead from us, but
when we were still leading, with only the run-in before us,
it flashed across me, " Why should we not win this race ! "
Up to that time I had been riding somewhat carelessly,
but now every nerve was strained to carry off the prize.
" The Gift " soon dropped back ; " Solitario " was stretched
to his full pace, but not pushed to quite his utmost
powers ; and it seemed as if we were going to win comfort-
ably. At the " distance," however, I was aware of a horse
stealing up to us, and glancing back, I saw the grey nose
of " Percliance," ridden by Adams, not more than a length
behind. Inch by inch he gained, but he was coming very
close alongside, and just as his head reached my quarters,
remembering to have heard that he was not supposed to

igo The Course, the Camp, the Chase

be very game in a close finish, I took up my whip and
" threatened " " Solitario," taking care that each time I
raised the whip it almost touched " Perchance's " nose. As
I expected, up went his head, he changed his legs, and
dropped back out of sight. There were still 200 yards
before the winning post was reached, and " driving "
" Solitario " to his utmost speed, we made the best of our
way to get there first. Adams got " Perchance " steadied,
and again the grey nose came nearer and nearer, but in
exactly the same place as before. History repeats itself,
and so did my tactics ; again the head went up, the stride
was changed, " Perchance " dropped back, and " Solitario "
won the King's Prize by a length, with " The Gift " third
half a length behind. The latter's jockey complained
bitterly of the use I had made of him at the time, and
talked of objecting. He had no grounds to go upon though,
and I soon put an end to his grumbling by carrying the
war into the enemy's country, and accused him of trying to
ride me inside the turning posts.

Poor " Perchance." It was hard upon him to dis-
qualify him for all the races he had won on one day, and
then to snatch the King's Prize from him on the next.

The day after the meeting was over, I rode out with
my host, Mr. H. Davies, to see the Ptoyal stallions, which,
to the number of eighty, had just come in from the
country districts, where they had been quartered during
the summer. On the way I said to him, "Would you
like to know about the King's Prize the other day ? "
" Indeed, I should," he replied ; " for we have been quite
puzzled over it. Everett was certain that he would win,
for he thought he had quite 7 lb. in hand at Seville,"
"■ That is just what we thought we had to spare," was

How Races were Won and Lost 191

my reply ; " and the result showed that we were right.
If the Seville race had been a true run one, ' Solitario '
would have won easily ; but by making it only a race for
speed from the ' distance,' ' Barbian,' who is very speedy,
but does not stay well, was able just to beat him.
' Solitario ' stays, but has not the highest speed. We
wanted the handicapper to put the same weight on him as
' Barbian ' at Jerez, and then we were sure of beating him
if the pace was good."

The following spring, I was hoist with my own
petard. When we arrived at Cadiz for the races, the
trainer of Senor Eult's horses came to me while we
were at exercise on the first morning, and asked me if I
could ride a four-year-old for him in the race for the Duke
of Montpensier's Prize. He stated that each morning,
after they had arrived there, the horse had bolted at
exercise directly they reached the path leading off the
course, and that, as this place would have to be passed
in the race, he was afraid he would endeavour to run out
there, and that he was not strong enough to hold him.

Not being engaged for the race, I agreed to ride, and
being warned of the horse's whim there seemed every
probability of getting him safely past the dangerous spot.
I lay well up as we approached it, but took the precaution
to keep on the rails, with a leader just in front, and hoped
"Eiff" would follow him round all right. He did not do
so, however, and endeavoured with all his might to bolt
across where he was accustomed to do so. It took all my
strength to hold him round the turn ; and we had almost
got straightened for home when Everett — who was making
the running on " Trovador," and was watching me as
closely as a cat does a mouse-hole — seeing that I had got

192 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

the better of " Eiff," took up his whip and threatened
" Trovador " with it, close to " Riff's " head. Instantly
he tried to bolt again, but we were now safely past the
turn, and I was able to let go the reins with one hand,
and hit him two or three such stinging strokes with the
whip across the side of his face and neck as very speedily
put him straight.

The race was only for five furlongs, and that distance
does not allow much time in which to retrieve a mis-
chance. Everett had quite two lengths to the good
before we were fairly ready to fight out the finish, and, in
addition, he had 16 lb. advantage in weight. A capital
struggle between the two horses resulted in the victory of
" Trovador " by half a length ; the third being beaten
several lengths. " Riff's " trainer was in a great state of
excitement, and full of congratulations, and the horse
never tried to bolt again. In the weighing-room after-
wards, Everett said to me, " You ought to have won,
sir, but I could not help thinking of your race on
' Solitario ' last autumn, and I thought I would try it on
' Riff" when I saw you had straightened him." What is
sauce for the goose, is undoubtedly sauce for the gander
too, so there was nothing to do but to make the best
of it!

CHAPTER XVI.

" Plenipo," "Colonist," and "King George."

" Plenipo ! " What recollections arise when thy name
is mentioned. Memories of sensational triumphs, with all
the glamour attaching to great victories, and the excite-
ment attending them. Truly he was a gallant horse,
despising weight and distance alike, if only he was fit to
run, and " above " himself. When he was in that con-
dition, it was perhaps a trifle difficult to keep on his back
when going down to the starting-post. As soon as ever
he was " off," however, he placed himself entirely in the
hands of his jockey, adapting his running to the slightest
indication given to him, and when asked to go on and
win his race, he strove to the very utmost of his power to
be first at the winning post. He knew where it was, too,
as well as I did ! As " ' Plenipo's ' jockey," I was known
at all the racing towns in Southern Spain, and the little
boys used to shout it after me in the streets, when every-
one made way for me as if I was a " bull-fighter." The
Spaniards are a very sporting nation, and their courteous,
dignified ways are charming. They loved the English at
that time. What a pity that a temporary cloud should
have arisen to alter their sentiments towards us, on account
of the American war ! It may be that we are grasping at
the shadow and losing the substance, for it is not very
long since that business over Venezuela began to assume a
13

194 ^^^'^ Course, the Camp, the Chase

very awkward appearance, and our American cousins are
not usually in the habit of professing much love for their
English relatives. Often has it been said to me in Spain,
among the lower orders, " Ah ! the English, we like them.
What they say they always do ! " (This is their view.)
"Does not everything that we have good come from England ?
Our horses, jockeys, guns, gunpowder, dogs, even salt ; and
our own are so worthless." It was quite true, and they
had an immense respect for us ; but as for the Americans,
they really hated them. It was quite possible for an
Englishman to go anywhere, into the roughest crowd in
any place, and so long as he was known to be an English-
man he was perfectly safe, but an American would have
been insulted, or even " knifed " immediately. Many a
time have I pushed my way into a crowd to see some-
thing, and on murmuring " Inglese," or " Inglese ginete "
(English jockey), way has been most courteously made for
me. Only once was I nearly getting into trouble, through
being mistaken for an American, as there were several just
arrived. Brows began to lower, and threatening gestures
made, as " Americano " was quickly bandied from lip to
lip. " Inglese," " Inglese," I repeated, but they shook
their heads, and if some Spanish racing lads had not
happened to be there, and quickly explained that it really
was an " Inglese ginete," there would have been serious
trouble. As soon, however, as they were assured of their
mistake, they took no further notice of me, and peace was
restored.

" Plenipo " was bred at Tarbes, I believe, and made
his appearance at Madrid, about the time of the French
and German War, when so. many good horses w^ere hurried
away from France. He was a deep-bodied, short-legged

'' Plenipo',' '' Colonist,'" and '' King George'' 195

horse, a perfect model of a weight-carrier, and though very
high-couraged, yet was an easy horse to ride.

The commencement of my riding for his owner, Don
T. Heredia, was a piece of hick for me. I had gone to
Granada to ride on the first day of the races for Captain
Luxford, who was at home on leave, and in the evening
was at supper in the garden of the Washington Irving
Hotel, with some other jockeys. Heredia came up to our
table, and said, " I want some one to ride ' Plenipo ' for
me in the Ladies' Plate to-morrow, can any of you ride ? "
I thought for a moment, and then replied, " I will." It
was a fortunate chance perhaps for both, for up to that
time, the middle of June, Heredia had not won a single
race that year, but before the season closed we won
sixteen. After we had struck the bargain, I said to him,
" Is not ' Plenipo ' engaged in the King's Prize to-morrow
also ? I can ride him in that, too, if you like." He
replied, " Yes, he is, but I have brought Garcia to ride
him." " Oh ! all right," I answered, for Garcia was a
capital jockey, who had long been in Count Lagrange's
stable, and came to England when the Count's horses
first came over to Newmarket. He had saved enough to
retire upon, and returned to Spain to spend the rest of
his life, but still frequently rode at the different meetings,
" But," returned Heredia, " I should prefer you to ride in
both races for me." I thereupon told him I should be
very glad to do so, if he could make arrangements with
Garcia, and he went off to interview him. He presently
returned and said that Garcia had expressed himself quite
willing to retire in my favour, though he would not resign
his mount to any other jockey, and that he was to receive the
same fee, win or lose, as if he was riding instead of me.

196 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

When we started for the King's Prize the next day, the
pace was made so hot at first, that we dropped back last,
being unable to keep up with the others, but knowing that
the horse had the reputation of being able to stay, and that
there was an incline on the far side, I was not discouraged,
and when half the race had been run, I began to urge
" Plenipo " to his utmost speed. We were then just
beginning the ascent, and the others came back very
quickly, so that when we turned into the straight, there
was only one left in front, and we were at his quarters.
As soon as we were level I was able to ease the horse for
a few strides, and then, coming again, got his head in front
and won. Garcia rushed up, beaming with delight, and
had the courtesy to say, " Well done, sir, I am glad you
were up. I should not have won that race myself."
About an hour afterwards the Ladies' Plate was run for,
and was almost an exact repetition of the King's Prize.
Again " Plenipo " was beaten off, again he reached them
on the hill, again we collared the leader in the straight,
and won by half-a-length. It was a very hot day, and
as soon as I had weighed in, I threw my coat over my
shoulders, tying it by the sleeves round my neck, without
putting it on, and retired under an archway of the grand
stand, that led to the stabling in the rear, in order to get
cool in the shade afforded by it. My attention was drawn
to a number of smart Spanish gentlemen, in tall hats and
frock coats, descending the steps of the Jockey Club stand,
who afterwards came in my direction. Not wishing to be
seen in the melting state I was in, I walked on to the
stables, only to be still followed by the others. I could
get no further, so turned round, when the first Spaniard
came up to me, and taking o£f his hat, with a polite bow,

'^ PlenipoJ' " Colonist,'' and '' Kinc^ George'' 197

accosted me with, " We are the Spanish Jockey Club. We
wish to shake hands with the English jockey." Each of
them in turn then took off his hat, and shook hands with
me. It really was very complimentary of them to pay
me so much honour ! There were just thirty of them.

There was a much coveted race run for at Gibraltar,
the Omnium, for all breeds of horses, and for all ages,
special allowances of weight being made for Barbs,
Arabs, thoroughbreds, and the different half-breeds. Five
Omniums were run whilst I was quartered there ; I rode
in four of them and won every time, and very curiously
the same horse ran second to me on each occasion. No
horse could win it twice, so it was especially unlucky for
that horse to be so often beaten, more especially as twice
he was better than my mount, but each time a mistake on
the part of his jockey gave me the race. Once I won it
on " Plenipo," but then he was undoubtedly the better
horse of the two. The next day, however, " Plenipo "
won probably the best race of his life. The race was a
mile and a quarter, and he was handicapped to carry
13 St. 7 lb., and to give 3 st., all but 2 lb., to the second
top- weight ! Five started, all winners, and I should have
been puzzled how to ride the race, if the initiative had not
been taken by the others. Two very light weights started
off at the very top of their speed, and I quickly saw that
they were going too fast to last, and need not be reckoned
with. The other two, who were good horses, were pulled
back behind me, and it instantly flashed across my mind
that their jockeys intended to wait upon me for some
time. I therefore steadied " Plenipo " gradually, so that
they should not guess my intentions, and still they kept
about twenty yards in the rear, directly in my track.

198 The Cotirse, the Camp, the Chase

Five furlongs from home we had to cross a road, after
which came a slight ascent, and it seemed to me probable
that they would rely on my steadying " Plenipo " to the
top of the rise, and that they would try to steal up to
me as soon as they crossed the road. The ground was
very hard, and as they kept out of my sight I listened
intently to the stroke of their hoofs, and the moment they
had crossed the road it seemed to me that the hoof
strokes quickened. Instantly I set " Plenipo " going at
his best pace, disregarding the hill, and thus turned the
race virtually into a five-furlong one, with twenty yards
start. That excellent jockey, Captain Luxford, reached
my quarters about one hundred yards from home, but I
still sat perfectly quiet, knowing that " Plenipo " was
running as game as a pebble, and I was keeping the
last eftbrt for the pinch when it came. On Luxford
came, drawing nearer and nearer, and fifty yards from
home his horse's nose was up to my knees. There was
no time to wait then, and calling on " Plenipo " for his
final effort, we just managed to hold our own to the end.

After the race Luxford at once owned that he had
made a mistake, and that their plans had been exactly
as I had divined them. What made it still more interest-
ing to myself was that I had beaten him over the same
course in the spring, for the Omnium, by riding in exactly
an opposite manner. I had been back to England to ride
in some races, and on my return I found a three-year-old
thoroughbred colt by " Chattanooga " the master of the
situation. His little game was to whip suddenly round
after starting to canter at exercise, and to keep on spinning
round like a teetotum. He did nothing else, but it was
too much for the lads, and no one could make him go.

'' Plenipo',' " Colonist,'' and " King Geoi'ge'' 199

On my return I took him in hand and soon had him all
right, but one of his fore-legs filled badly from the effects
of the fights that he had indulged in, and consequently we
dare not give him the work we should otherwise have
done. Luxford was aware that the horse was short of
work, so when we started for the Omnium he very properly
forced the pace on that good horse " Molinero," in order to
pump " Colonist." Just before we reached the road,
" Colonist," who was feeling the pace, changed his legs
three times very quickly and dropped back from his bit.
Knowing that he was tiring, I sat as still as I possibly
could and let him do what he pleased, and in the next few
strides he had dropped some twenty yards behind
" Molinero." We were just beginning the ascent, and had
Luxford forced the pace then we should have been out of
the race, but looking back over his shoulder he saw
" Colonist " some lengths behind, and thinking the horse
was beaten, he steadied " Molinero." We thus went
quietly up the hill, and in descending again I felt
" Colonist " begin to stride out more freely and take hold
of his bit. I was certain then that Luxford had lost his
race, and when he found I was gaining on him he realised
it himself too. Do what he would he could not get away
from me, and nursing " Colonist " for one run, fifty yards
from home, he answered gamely enough, and we won by
half a length.

Some owners are never satisfied, however, and Mr.
" Marland," for whom I was riding, found fault afterwards
for my having allowed " Colonist " to drop away from
" Molinero," saying that he did not approve of such pro-
ceedings, and that in his opinion I had jeopardised the
race by so doing ! In vain did I tell him I should never

200 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

have won if I had tried to keep up with the leader at that
delicate part of the contest. He could not appreciate the
skill involved in the proceeding, and really thought as he
spoke. His trainer, however, thoroughly understood the
necessity of the case, and warmly congratulated me after-
wards, and was most annoyed with his master for his want
of judgment. Mr. " Marland " was a rich man com-
paratively, and yet though I won many races for him he
never made me the slightest acknowledgment. He was
one of three owners for whom I have trained and ridden,
and won many races, finding myself out of pocket in many
small ways, besides my travelling expenses, for which I
could make no charge, yet who never offered to pay any-
thing towards them, or gave me the slightest present.
These three owners must have had an income of at least
£300,000 per annum between them. Other owners,
some nearly as poor as myself, on the other hand, have
been most generous, occasionally almost too much so ; and I
have nearly always found that people of moderate incomes
are more generous, and more thoughtful in saving others'
expense, than rich men who could so easily afford it, and
would never miss what is a serious item to the others.

On another occasion also I was blamed for the manner
in which I won a most desperately ridden race, by an
owner who did not understand race-riding. My mount was a
good stayer, but deficient in speed, and before we had gone
a quarter of a mile I was being tailed off. As the horse
had been in my string the year before, I thoroughly knew
his capabilities, and I at once began to urge him to his
utmost speed, even taking up my whip and threatening
him, without actually hitting him. It was only a six-
furlong race, and there was no time to lose. When we

'' Plenipol' " Colonist^' and ''King George'' 201

turned into the straight there were but two in front of me,
and gradually I passed one, and then got up to the quarters
of the other. This horse was ridden by a jockey who held
theories of his own as to the way races should be ridden,
and one of them was, that it was not possible to get more
out of a horse by what is called " riding " him, than by
sitting perfectly still. He very seldom won a race — never
unless he had much the best of it — but he was so plausible,
and had such an elegant seat, that owners still continued
to put him up. He was now riding a horse also formerly
trained by me, who possessed a great dash of speed, and if
he had only just asked him for one effort he must have
won easily. As it was, by great exertion we worked away
at last to his head, and as there was yet time to spare, I
dropped my hands for a few strides and collected my horse
for the final effort. Glancing at my companion, I thought
to myself, " Are you nemr going to try to win a race ?
Surely if ever you are, this is the time to begin." But no ;
he sat placidly there, and then with one more struggle we
won by half a length. The trainer rushed up, beaming
with excitement, and exclaimed, " Well done, sir, well done,
you rode that right well ; " but the owner came up, though
pleased to win, and wanted to know, " What on earth I
had kept so far behind for, and then had to flog the horse
to get up again ? Why could not I keep up like the
others?" Indeed, I should have been only too glad to have
done so, if I could ; and that was all the thanks I got.
Truly the ways of owners are very curious.

It may not be generally known that it is far harder
work to ride a race of that sort, especially if you happen
to be on a " slug," who will only do what he is made to
do, than to ride a hard pulling horse, however hard he may

202 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

pull. A time comes with the latter when he must do his
best in order to win, and then when the reins are gradually
slackened the rider gets relief. With a sluggish horse,
however, it is just the contrary. He will relax his efforts
the moment you stop urging him, and the nearer you are
to the winning-post, the more exertion you have to use.
What a tremendous strain this is on the jockey few out-
siders can realise. I once had a conversation with the
late Sir Andrew Clark on the subject, and he owned that
he could not understand it at all. The loss of weight in
even the short time that a six-furlong race takes is some-
times considerable, and shows clearly what an immense effort
has been made. But what Sir Andrew could not explain
was, how the weight is lost. There is no time to lose it
solely by perspiration, and my idea is that it goes con-
siderably in the breath, for on such occasions one often
has to pant hard. In an ordinary race not an ounce is
lost, but as much as a pound and even more may be
parted with in very hard races, unless one has been
wasting much. The greatest slug I ever rode was a
horse called " King George," and I never weighed out
for him without allowing an extra pound for what I
knew I should lose before I returned. He was a good
horse, and could both stay and go fast, but had to be
made to do his best. At one meeting I won on him over
1^ miles the first day, 2 miles the second day, and 2
miles the third day. His owner was greedy, and would
yet run him in another race on the last day, although he
ought to have been content with the three he had won.
We were badly in too, the weights all being in favour of
" Carnival," a very good horse. The distance was 1 \
miles, and as the others were afraid of " King George,"

"■ Plenipo',' " Colonist',' and ''King George " 203

and knew he must have a pace, they waited on him, and I
was forced to make my own running. For the whole
distance I had to keep at that horse, the end of a hardly
contested race being that " Carnival " beat me by a long
neck; when I returned to weigh in I had lost \\ lb., the
greatest amount that I ever did lose.

Another fact is the extraordinary effect a very mode-
rate amount of food can have, when you have been
wasting. My ordinary weight was 10 st. 5 or 6 lb. when
stripped, and I had been riding 10 stone. As the next
race was 13 st. 9 lb., and the following one 10 st. 7 lb. I
ventured to take a very slight amount of food between
the two races, yet when I presented myself at the scales
only a few minutes afterwards my weight had gone up to
10 st. 4 lb., though I had just previously weighed in at
10 St. with my saddle.

At the Seville autumn meeting we had a very sensa-
tional race for the Duke of Montpensier's prize, which
was run over hurdles — very awkward hurdles they were
too, being 4 feet 6 inches high, with double top -bars,
between which tall broom was drawn, through which we
had to " swish " like a " bullfinch." The hurdles might
break indeed, but they were too firmly fixed into the
ground to knock down, and were not even slanted to assist
the horses when jumping. The usual rains had not com-
menced, so that the course was very dry and hard, and to
keep the dust down under the royal box — which was on
the very verge of the course — a water cart had been freely
used. As Spanish clerks of the course did not know
much about hurdle-racing — in fact, this form of sport had
only been introduced that year — I generally had a look
round to see if it was necessary to make any alteration in

204 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

the placing of the jumps. In this case the hurdles in
front of the stand were so fixed, that the horses would
have to take off on dry ground and alight on to the
watered part of the course, which had now about an inch
of mud on the top, with hard ground underneath. We
all know how dangerous that is, and how slipping is a
certainty under such conditions; I ordered the hurdles to
be put further back, so that the horses would alight on to
dry ground, as well as take off from it ; as to slipping when
galloping, that they had to take their chance of.

The workmen began to alter the hurdles and then
stopped, and proceeded to replace them in their former
position, whereupon I jumped up from the seat where I
was sitting with the other professional jockeys, and went
to see what was the matter. The workmen said, that
Her Majesty desired that the hurdles should remain
where they were, as she wished to see the horses jump
exactly underneath her. This did not suit my view of
the case, however, and telling them that the hurdles must
be altered, I resumed my seat. Directly afterwards up
came an officer of the Court, in a gorgeous uniform and
cocked hat, who very courteously saluted me and said, that
" when the English gentleman understood it was the wish
of La Eeina that the hurdles should remain where they
were, the English gentleman could have no objection."
" But the English gentleman has an objection," I replied.
" I am sorry to disappoint Her Majesty, but the hurdles
are too dangerous where they are, so they must be altered."
The officer retired, then returned and remarked, " La
Eeina said, 'Are you an Englishman, and afraid to ride?' "
Now this answer made me more determined than ever to
have the hurdles removed, for there was a tragical story

'^ Plenipo^' " Colonist',' and '' Kmg George'' 205

current that Her Majesty had addressed a somewhat
similar remark to a matador, when he urged the impos-
sibility of playing the same trick twice on a bull in the
bull ring. " Now, look here, old chap," I answered, " if
these hurdles are not altered, I'll neither run another
horse, nor ride another horse at this meeting."

Nearly half the horses running at the meeting were
under my control in one way or another, and if I had used
my influence to send them away, the meeting would have
been spoiled. I was, too, the second highest jockey in
winning mounts, only Everett, the professional, being ahead
of me, and as there was a large faction of the State
against Queen Isabella, I was sure of a very considerable
following. All the other professionals were backing me up
too, for they knew the danger, though they would have
had to act as their masters ordered them. However, my
point was gained, and the hurdles were altered. As we
came on to the slippery ground, after jumping the hurdle,
the horses as nearly as possible fell, " Plenipo " slipping for
several feet, and having the greatest difficulty in keeping
his legs.

We won the race, and then came another little episode.
The cups and great prizes used to be put on a raised dais
on the lawn, and guarded by sentries. On the conclusion
of a race, after the jockey was weighed in, the saddle was
put again on the horse, the jockey remounted, and rode
round to the front of the stand. The lady of the highest
rank present then came forward, attended by a large suite,
and presenting the prize to the jockey, as he sat on his
horse, made him a little suitable speech. The jockey then
had to reply, and afterwards rode away with the prize in
his hand amongst the " vivas " of the crowd. Well, when I

2o6 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

had won the Duke of Montpensier's Prize, " La Eeina "
refused to present me with the cup. I am afraid I did
not feel the implied reproof as I ought, for it saved me a
lot of trouble. Englishmen do not take kindly to
being made " sights of," although I was pretty well used
to it, and had learned a little Spanish speech by heart,
varying it according to the name of the race that had been
won. This had been the last race of the day, and being
very hungry, as I had had nothing to eat since my meagre
breakfast, I caught hold of an old friend, and said, " Don
Jose, do get me something to eat, I am so hungry."
Seville is something like Ascot, on a smaller scale, with
numerous luncheon parties, but the hour was very late.
Don Jos^ went to search, but returned presently, saymg
that though he had done all he could, he had been un-
successful, as every luncheon had been packed up and sent
back to Seville. He added that the only luncheon left
was in the Eoyal Tent. " Can you get me into that ? "
I asked him. " Oh, yes," he replied, " quite easily."
" That will do," was my answer ; and so I got some food
after all, though unbeknown to the Eoyal Hostess.

We had occasionally to stable our horses in very queer
places at the Spring Meeting at Seville, for the Great Fair
is held at the same time, and regular stables are most
difficult to obtain. At one meeting we had to put them
into a gymnasium, — but it did not prevent them from
winning ! Another time our stable was the lower room
of a priest's house, and glad enough we were to get any
place that was quiet. That time we carried off the chief
event of the meeting, and also another race. I remember
a remarkably pretty girl, niece of the Padre, peeping into
the " stable " to see how we were uettiuy: on, and dad

" Pleiiipo^' " Colonist',' and " King George " 207

indeed was she and the priest when we returned victorious
in the evening. They were both very much interested in
their unusual visitors.

Poor " Plenipo ! " He met with a sad end in the
following spring at Malaga. I was riding at another
meeting on the same day, so Tom Alcock rode him instead
in a hurdle race. " Plenipo " was a very difficult horse
to handle over the first hurdle in the preliminary canter ;
he would keep twisting himself round, and generally
arrived either sideways to the jump, or with his tail
towards it. Knowing his tricks, I used to take him
outside the track, and then suddenly bringing him round
on to it, started him off at the top of his speed, when he
would jump all right. In the actual race he would bore
with his head right between his toes, so that it was
necessary to saw his mouth and get his head up when
within a few strides of the hurdle, or he would blunder
into it. Once over, he gave no further trouble ; and I
won many hurdle races on him. Alcock did not seem to
have managed him well, for the horse fell with him in the
preliminary canter, and again in the race itself at the first
hurdle. This last time he was most seriously injured
internally, and died on the spot. It was a sad ending
to a right gallant horse.

CHAPTER XVII.

Training Difficulties — Spanish Justice —
The Bull Ring.

When at exercise one morning in the spring at Jerez
de la Frontera — the Newmarket of Spain — I noiiced a
chestnut colt that seemed to gallop with great freedom.
I inquired to whom he belonged, and finding it was an
acquaintance, I went after breakfast to call upon him, and
to find out if the horse was for sale. His owner did not
wish to sell him, as he greatly admired the colt, but he
was very pleased to show him to me, and I gladly con-
gratulated him on the possession of such a beautiful three-
year-old. " Handsome is as handsome does," however, and
when he came to start for his first race he bolted at the
first turn, threw his jockey, an English professional, and
was not caught for a long time. The next day Alfred
Wood rode him, as the other jockey declined the task ;
and though the colt could not get rid of Wood, he bolted
again at the first turn, and took no further part in the
race. Thinking that time and care would cure him, as he
was so young a horse, I again sought his owner with a
view of buying him, but Mr. Garvey said that he still
wished to keep him, though he should not race him again,
and proposed to use him as a sire, for the sake of his
breeding. I then offered to take the colt and train him, to
which he gladly assented, and it was settled that he should

Training Dijficulties 209

join my string at Gibraltar as soon as the round of spring
races were over. When he arrived I treated him exactly
as if he had never been handled at all, beginning with the
breaking-tackle and long reins ; and though we had several
battles, he was quite quiet before I attempted to ride
him. At first he gave some trouble, and twice bolted
into the sea with me, at one time swimming so far out
amongst the shipping, that I began to wonder if we
should ever see Spain again, as he had set his head
straight for Africa.

By constantly splashing water in his face, I at last got
him to turn a wide semicircle, and eventually he carried
me ashore again without mishap. He gradually got quiet,
and we began to canter him, but when we tried him for
the first time, the slowest horse in the stable could run
away from him. I accordingly wrote to his owner to say
that " Babieca " had become quite quiet, but was so slow
that any hack could beat him. He sent word that the
colt was to be returned to him, but I begged to keep him
a little longer, as with his beautiful, easy action, it seemed
certain that some day he must be able to win a race. One
day he suddenly began to improve, and such progress did
he make that I was able to write again to Mr. Garvey and
say that either of two maiden races was at his mercy,
whichever he cared to select. He chose the one at Cadiz,
as it was not so far for him to come to see the colt run.
" Babieca " ran very kindly ; and we won by a length, with
half a length between the second and third.

He had run so well, that the next day we allowed

him to start for the chief three-year-old race of the

meeting ; but, as the weight he had to carry was too light

to permit of my riding him, a professional jockey was

14

2 1 o The Course, the Camp^ the Chase

put up, while I rode cauother horse, whose accumulated
penalties brought the weight within my reach.

According to my directions, " Babieca " cantered with
the horse I was riding, and pulled up quite contentedly.
We walked back together to the starting-post, the horse
looking in a happy frame of mind, lobbing his ears and
making little grunts of satisfaction, as was his wont when
pleased.

We had a false start, and again " Babieca " pulled
up quietly, and walked back quite steadily. Up to this
his jockey had been rather nervous, for the escapades
at the Jerez races were not yet forgotten. Now, how-
ever, he had got confidence, since the colt had proceeded
so quietly ; so, just as we were gathering together for
the start, he pulled the horse's head roughly to one side,
and gave him a job with the spur to make him come
round more quickly. I noticed the colt give a great
start, while such a look came into his face, that I said
to myself, " You are done for now, there's no mistake."
At that instant the flag fell, and as we left the post
I saw " Babieca " whip round and bolt with the jockey,
just as he had done before in the Spring.

So here was the result of all my trouble gone, and
the colt thrown back again for weeks. I took him
home, put him in the breaking-tackle once more, and
luckily soon had him as docile as ever.

I started him once more that autumn, getting leave
to saddle him at the starting-post, where I gave him
lumps of sugar until the other jockeys arrived. I then
mounted, and when the race commenced just let the
horse follow the others as he pleased, without urging
him in any way, and he completed the course without

Training Difficjilties 2 1 1

showing any desire to bolt. Daring the winter I took
him to the meets of the hounds, and rode him on parade,
and he became as handy as possible. The following
season he won no fewer than nine races. After his
racing career was over he was purchased by the late
Lady Brassey, and brought home to Sussex to carry her
with the East Sussex Fox-Hounds, near Hastings.

One autumn I purchased a very speedy horse in
Portugal, and brought him back to Gibraltar. He was
a tall, leggy horse, with light back-ribs, a delicate feeder,
and had never won beyond six furlongs. I ran him
on the first day of the meeting, when carrying 13 st. —
he was beaten by a neck by " Molinero," to whom he
was conceding a stone, over six furlongs. That evening
he never touched a single grain of corn, he was so
upset by his race. His head was up ; he kept listening
and staring from side to side, and would not settle
down at all. I was early at the stables the next
morning, but still he would not feed, and at nine
o'clock he was as excited as ever. He was accustomed
to eat bread out of my hand, so seeing that there was
no chance of his taking his ordinary food, I sent his
lad up to the house, with directions to bring me the
largest loaf that was there.

He brought me a huge cottage loaf, and, breaking
it into small pieces, I never left the horse until he had
eaten the very last crumb. So long as he had something
inside him, it did not much matter what it was, but to
have run him again without food would have been per-
fectly useless.

That afternoon, carrying 12 st. 7 lb., he started for
a race of a mile and a quarter, much farther than he

212 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

had ever compassed before. The race was run exactly
to suit him, for I lay off with him, and the other
jockeys — thinking that as " Baccarat " was running so
much out of his distance, that he need not be taken
into account — made a slow race of it, all waiting on
each other. The result was, that I was able to creep
gradually up, come with one run and win by a neck,
with a head between the second and third. The story
of the bread got out, and it was quite commonly believed
that this was the cause of the horse winning so far out
of his distance ? It was a three days' meeting, and I
was confidently assured that on the last day nearly
every horse that ran had a loaf of bread offered him,
but the talisman failed to answer in every case.

The spirit of gambling is strong in Spaniards, and
my friend, Don Heredia, was like the rest of his nation.
One evening we were at the Casino in Cadiz, and Heredia
went upstairs to the roulette tables, where, before long,
he lost what money he had with him. He came to
where we were sitting, and begged us to lend him more,
but we were inexorable, for even if he won at first he
would generally continue till all was gone. It so
happened that a sweepstakes on a race for the succeed-
ing day was declared invalid, and the stakes were returned.
Heredia received back a sovereign, and promptly returned
to the tables to try his luck again with the coin. As
he did not come back for some time, I went upstairs
to see how he was faring, and found him playing with
piles of notes and gold in front of him, while he gleefully
called out for me to see what he had won.

Going to the table, I made a grab at the pile of
notes, and, seizing a handful, thrust them into my pocket.

Training Difficulties 213

Heredia started up to protest, and the croupiers rushed
at me from different parts of the table, thinking it was
a case of attempted robbery ; then, seeing we were friends,
they resumed their seats, with smothered mutterings
about the " Mad Inglese " — such, moreover, being the
usual opinion in Spain of the character of all English
people.

Heredia asked for the money to be given back to
him, but telling him that I should keep it safe for him,
while if he had it he would lose it, I left the room
and went downstairs. Presently Heredia appeared, having
already lost the remainder, and begged to have the money
returned, that he might have another venture. Just then,
however, another sweepstakes was returned, and, taking
his sovereign, Heredia again sought the tables. He was
in rare luck that evening, and on my going after him
I found him with another pile before him. Another
grab — not quite so successful as before, for Heredia was
on the alert, and seized my wrist — enabled me to still
further fill my pocket, and I once more retired from
the room. It was not long before Heredia came after
me to beg and pray for more money, for it is needless
to say that the bank had swallowed up all his gains.
His entreaties were in vain, however, and telling him he
should have it back in the morning, I left the Casino
and retired to the hotel. Then, for the first time, did
I count what I had taken ; it was £96, and very thankful
was my friend in the morning when it was returned to
him, for it came, as he said, in the light of a present,
as he would assuredly have lost it the night before, if he
had then got possession of it.

Heredia once gave me a valuable amethyst and

214 ^^^^ Course^ the Camp, the Chase

diamond pin, to commemorate some of the victories of
" Plenipo," and as I usually wore it at race meetings, it
came to be known as " Plenipo's Pin." One day I went
into a shop in Seville to buy a necktie, and rather foolishly
took off the one I was wearing — in which was the pin —
and placed it on the counter while putting on the other
tie before a pier-glass. On turning round T was surprised
to see the shopkeeper rapidly rolling up a piece of paper,
which he held out to me, saying that was the tie I had
just taken off.

Something in the celerity of his motions excited my
suspicions, and caused me to undo the paper parcel, when
it was at once evident that though the tie was undoubtedly
there, the pin was gone.

On demanding where the pin was, the man affected
not to understand me. " Did the senor want a pin ?
Here was one, white, black, long, short. What did the
sehor want ? " My Spanish did not carry me very far, so
the interpreter of the hotel was sent for, and quickly came.
Most indignant were the shop-people at being supposed to
have stolen the pin, and the man who served me stoutly
declared that I was not wearing one at all when I entered
the shop. Then the police were sent for. The shopman
pretended to look everywhere for the pin, and then sud-
denly striking me a sharp blow on the shoulder, held up
the pin, and declared he had just found it sticking there.
The police at once seized the pin, and declared that as it
was stolen property, it must now remain with them, and
the shopkeeper then entered a charge against me for
stealing my own pin ! There was no help for it but to
appeal to the English Consul for redress, and the case had
to come before the Alcaldes. In Seville there are four

Spanish Justice 2 1 5

Alcaldes, — and in Spain justice goes either by interest or
the length of the purse. One of the Alcaldes was brother-
in-law of a gentleman I was riding for, so he was sure to
be all right. Another was a great friend of his, and
would vote with him. The third was uncertain. But the
son of the fourth was courting the daughter of the shop-
keeper, so the issue appeared very doubtful. However, it
began to be rumoured that it was " Plenipo's " jockey who
had lost the pin, and that it was " Plenipo's Pin " that
had been lost. That turned the scale in my favour at
once, as Alcalde No. 3 voted with our friendly ones, and
so I gained my case. In my innocence I thought I should
regain possession of the pin at once, but I little knew the
tortuous methods of Spain. Weeks elapsed before I had
the pleasure of receiving a little parcel from the English
Consul, in which lay the long-lost pin.

That pin has had an adventurous career since, and
must have a charmed life. On one occasion it was lost,
but was duly recovered the next day in the kitchen
garden. Then when worn by my wife, while we were
out walking one Sunday on the moors, it was suddenly
discovered to be missing. We had had a long tramp, and
it seemed hopeless to go to look for it, and yet about a
mile back there it lay on a fortunately bare piece of
road.

It was only found to be lost again, and this time in
the busy streets of York ; and yet my wife found it about
two hours after it was lost, lying in the track of the
tramway in the very busiest and most frequented part of
the city. There it had lain, while many tramcars had
passed over it, and numbers of foot-people, yet no one had
noticed it. It was partially crushed, but this was able to

2i6 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

be remedied by recutting the amethyst, and perhaps this
operation has allayed its penchant for adventures, for it
has never had one since.

To live in Spain, and mix with the people, almost
compels attendance at bull-fights, and there is such intense
excitement in the spectacle, that there is some excuse for
any one going to see them. Apart from the horrible
cruelty to the horses, there is much to admire in the
wonderful activity, pluck, and presence of mind of the
performers ; and it is these qualities that are powerful
enough to blind the spectators to what is revolting, and
to attract them when they would otherwise be repelled.

Picture the gay magnificence of the scene — the bright
sunlight, the brilliant dresses of the performers, the pic-
turesque garb of the country-people, with the pretty
senoritas and their most becoming mantillas. To add to
the excitement, the band plays the most stirring of the
national airs, while vivas and cheers from multitudes of
throats greet the exhibition of any special act of daring
and skill. Let me recount one of the many feats that
I have seen, and judge for yourselves which of the two
alternatives is likely to be chosen, — to take a solitary
walk through the deserted streets, or to join the glad
throng that is wending its way to the Plaza del Toros.

In the very centre of the bull-ring at Seville — which
is unusually large — far from the " shelters " against the
sides, stands a noted matador, with a pair of banderillos.
Before the time has arrived for him to engage the bull
with the red cloak and espada, he is going to implant
those barbed, gaily- coloured sticks in the neck of the bull,
and, to do this successfully, he must attract the animal's
attention, so that, when it charges, he runs to meet it on

The Bull Ring 2 1 7

the segment of a circle, which manoeuvre enables him to
allow the horns to pass under his arm, while by a quick
turn of the wrist the weapons are embedded in the bull's
neck. This is the ordinary routine of every banderillero,
but usually they take good care to make their effort close
to a " shelter," behind which they can run for safety, in
case anything goes wrong. Our matador, however, intends
to act sensationally, and boldly stands in the centre of the
ring, holding the banderillos at arm's-length, straight above
his head, and shouting to attract the bull's attention.

The latter is a gallant animal, and no sooner does he
catch sight of his new enemy than he lowers his head and
makes for him at his utmost speed. The matador meets
him successfully and thrusts in the banderillos, but then
occurs what very seldom happens ; instead of plunging into
the air and endeavouring to tear out the tormenting darts,
the bull turns with the utmost rapidity and charges
straight at the defenceless man. It seems as if only a
miracle can save him from instant impalement. There is
no chulo with a cloak handy to float it in front of the
bull's eyes, and thus distract his attention. In order to
enhance the sensation of the feat, the matador directed all
the chulos to retire to the barriers, and now he can
trust to his speed of foot alone. As the bull arrests his
charge, which he does with marvellous quickness, the
banderillero realises what is going to happen and starts for
the barrier, with the bull scarcely two yards behind him
doing his utmost to catch his tormentor. There are fully
lifty yards to the barriers ; the spectators hold their very
breath from the thrilling excitement of the scene, and
absolute silence falls on that vast assembly. The man just
keeps ahead, but when he reaches the barrier the horns

2i8 TJic Course, the Camp, the Chase

appear to be almost touching his back, and surely the bull
must pin him against the wooden boards. But no ! the
fugitive lays one hand upon them, and vaulting lightly
over the 5 feet 6 inches of paling, drops down on the
farther side. To the horror of the lookers-on the bull
rises at the leap at the same moment, taking it in his
stride like a steeplechase horse, and even yet it cannot be
seen for certain whether he has not caught his would-be
victim in the air. The latter, however, has intuitively
realised what is happening, for he has kept his hand on
the top of the barrier, which has caused him to slightly
incline to one side as he alights ; whereas the bull has
jumped straight and just missed him. Without moving his
hand, the matador, the moment he touches the ground,
vaults back again into the ring, leaving the bull on the far
side.

The cheers, the vivas, and the music that burst forth
are the expression of the natural relief to the thrilling
moments that have just been experienced.

Let us take one other instance, in the ring at Malaga,
on the last occasion that I ever attended a bull-fight.

Frascuelo, together with his great rival, " Lagartijo,"
the two most famous matadors of the day, were both in
the ring, each burning to do some feat to eclipse the other.
It was Frascuelo's turn to be matador, and to perform the
last act of the drama. It is necessary for the matador to
wrap the red cloak around the espada and to roll it up, so
that only a convenient length depends, making it much
like a flag attached to a staff, with the bare part of the
latter cut off. The matador holds the cloak and espada in
the middle, and then manoeuvres it before the bull until he
can manage to get him to stand in exactly the right

The Bull Ring 2 1 9

position ; then still holding the red flag in the same
manner, but with the left hand, he withdraws the sword
with his right hand and makes the thrust which, if well-
directed, is fatal. It is necessary to get the bull to stand
with both fore-feet exactly in a line, for then he must
take a step forward with one before he can move, thus
giving the matador time to escape, if he charges. When
standing in the required position, the next thing is to get
the head lowered nearly down to the fore-feet, which
exposes the top of the withers where the sword has to
enter.

Frascuelo had done all this, and made a thrust, but
it was a failure ; a chulo had rushed forward with a
cloak, and the bull was pursuing him, while Frascuelo
commenced to rearrange the cloak and the espada.

No doubt partly from chagrin at not being successful,
and partly from swagger, the matador never took any
notice of the bull after the chulo had appeared on the
scene, but stood with his back to the others, concentrating
his whole attention on his own business, although one of
the chief maxims of the bull-ring is, " Never take your eye
off the bull." As a rule, under such conditions, a bull will
follow the cloak of the chulo for some distance, and if he
tires of that one another chulo is ready, and again the bull
is tempted to pursue the gaudy lure. In this case the
enraged brute only followed the cloak a few yards, and
then, in spite of the efforts of the chulos, he turned and
charged straight at the unconscious form of Frascuelo.

It was like a nightmare. Everyone rose to their feet
and yelled to attract the attention of the matador, while
he, with his head bent down engrossed over his work, paid
not the slio'htest attention. No doubt the confusion of

2 20 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

voices was so great that he could distinguish nothing that
was said, as he would have done had but one person alone
called out to him. Just when the excitement was at its
height, when the bull was scarcely a yard away, coming at
full gallop in a headlong charge from behind, Frascuelo
apparently heard its approach. He gave a sudden start,
looked hurriedly over his shoulder, and instantly stiffening
into a statue, turned his body sideways to his assailant, at
the same time leaning over backwards as far as he could.
The action was so instantaneous that it took far less time
to accomplish than to relate it, and almost simultaneously
the bull's right horn caught the epaulette on Frascuelo's
left shoulder, ripping the whole of his clothes off his chest
and leaving the skin bare, but without actually touching
him. The scene that followed is impossible to describe.
The enthusiasm was intense, and the matador's fame rose
to a higher pitch than ever.

These are the feats that are so powerfully attractive,
and a bull-fight never takes place, where the bulls are
good and the bull-fighters first-rate, without a certainty of
someone being killed, if he were not saved either by his
own presence of mind, or the skill and courage of others.
And yet fatal accidents are very rare. Often and often it
flashes across j^our mind, that someone must be killed
unless someone else can possibly do a given action, and,
almost before the thought has formed in your mind, that
someone has bounded to the spot and done that very
action. " Viva, viva, magnifico, mnsica ! "

CHAPTER XVIII.
Some Racing Experiences.

Being attacked by malarial fever I was obliged to leave
Spain, and Sir Julius Glyn, just then being appointed to
the command of the Dublin District, most kindly offered
me the appointment of A.D.C., which I gladly accepted, I
took over with me a chestnut mare, by " Speculum," that
had been bred by my father, and very soon bought another
beautifully bred mare, whom, from recollections of Spain, I
named " La Marchesa." These were my two chargers, with
whom I hoped to pick up a race or two as well, and also
to get some hunting on them. We at once began to train
them in the Phoenix Park, but, as it happened to be a very
hot summer and the ground became extremely hard, we
soon had to give up galloping on the turf, and to resort
instead to the excellent going afforded by the sea-sands at
low tide.

Clever as the Curragh trainers undoubtedly are, they
are a little apt to think that what they are not in the
habit of doing is unworthy of attention ; and I was often
told afterwards of the amusement it had afforded them, to
hear that not only was a staff-officer in Dublin training
his own horses, but that he was actually galloping them on
the seashore. The jokes at my expense were, no doubt,
both numerous and facetious ; but the proof of the pudding
is in the eatincr, and I won a five-furlon"; race on " La

2 22 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Marchesa," and also carried off a two-mile race on
" Elmina " on the same afternoon at the Curragh, thereby
conveying a useful lesson on the folly of underrating the
tactics of a rival. What is more, by way of swagger, I
rode both the horses at a short field day the previous
day, riding " Elmina " in the march past, which further
encouraged the prejudice against them.

It is often remarked that " weight can be given away
in a race, but not distance," and, in a general way, this is
no doubt a true saying. Circumstances alter cases, how-
ever, and " Elmina's " race was one in point. Though I
jumped off with an excellent lead, and was leading round
the first turn, the others passed me at such a pace that I
said to myself, " Well, you may go on like that if you like,
I can't do so; so I'll toddle behind, and see what happens."
The pace was made so strong that I was soon several
lengths behind everything ; and, when half the race had
been run, the leaders did in truth seem so far ahead that
it appeared almost hopeless to continue. Still, the little
mare was galloping strong, and, feeling sure that the pace
must soon have an effect upon the leaders, I held on at
the same even rate. The track winds round a hillock, and
just before we disappeared behind it I put the question in
my own mind, " Is it time to try to reach them now ? " but
I glanced at the stand in the far distance, and as it still
seemed a very long way off, I resolved to wait a bit longer. I
remembered, too, that there was a steep hill to ascend very
shortly, and wished to see what effect this would have upon
the others. Presently I caught up the horse next to me,
who was already labouring in his gallop, and as I passed
him his jockey made the remark, " I think you and I had
better pull up " ; but, just glancing at him, I replied, " I

So7ne Racing Experiences 223

don't know what you are going to do, but I am going to
win this race." I had already detected that the leaders
were beginning to go slower, and we had not yet even com-
menced the ascent. Down in the bottom the tan gallop
had to be crossed, and I took especial notice that the fore-
most horses were crossing this as I was passing a particular
post, thinking that I would, when the race was over, come
back and measure how far I was then behind. When I
did so the distance was found to be exactly forty yards.
Going up the hill I did not increase the speed in the least,
but by the time we were at the top the tired horses were
going very slow, and I was at their quarters. As we had
to round a sharp turn into the straight I did not attempt
to pass outside them, or I should have lost much ground ;
but directly afterwards two of them opened out from each
other, and then, asking the mare for a spurt, she shot
through the opening, and only one horse was left before
me. We now were in the straight run in, and, in jockey
language, I at once went up to look for my race, had the
leading horse in difficulties directly, and won in a canter.
After weighing in I was sitting on the table, watching the
others undergoing the same process, when at length in
bustled the jockey whom I had first passed. He took no
notice of anyone, but pushed straight up to where I was
sitting, and asked eagerly, " Did you win that race ? "
" Yes," was my reply ; whereupon he gave his thigh a
resounding slap, and turned away with the one remark, to
my great amusement, " Well, I am d — d ! "

Another instance of giving away distance was in the
Hunt Cup at Thirsk. A horse of mine had run second
twice at Sandown Park, and twice at Malton ; but we
believed he was really a good horse, and should have won,

2 24 ^-^^^ Cotirse, the Camp, the Chase

if he had given his proper running. Yet he had been
ridden by some of the best jockeys of the day, so that on
the face of it the book form seemed as if it was correct.
At Thirsk I determined to ride him myself, which I had
hitherto been prevented from doing, from having broken
three ribs only five weeks before, and being still strapped
up on one side. My horse very soon began to drop away
from the others, as in his former races, and when still a
mile from home was a considerable distance behind, while
in the Ring 100 to 1 was being offered in vain against
him. Though very much averse to punishing a horse, I
was determined to have it out with him, and used my
whip with great effect. He soon began to realise that he
had better mend his ways, and when we turned into the
straight we were at the heels of the rearmost horses. The
late Mr. Egremont Lascelles was just then passing on his
way to the station, with one of the trainers, and he told me
afterwards that, as we passed, he asked the question, " Is it
possible for him to win ? " when the other replied, " No, it
is qiiite impossible " ; but, to his unbounded astonishment,
the next morning's paper showed that we had won after
all.

The horse was now running with some dash, and by
the time we got to the distance we had drawn level with
the late Mr. Abington, who was riding " Blue Back," and
who was sitting at his ease a neck in front of Mr. W.
Brown, who was riding hard on " Diana."

When Mr. Abington suddenly found me at his side, he
lost his head for a moment and got out of balance with
his horse, and, seeing this, I was able to drop my hands for
a few strides, and ease the pressure under which my horse
had now been running for nearly a mile. Fifty yards

Some Racing Experiences 225

from the winuing-post I called ou my mount for a final
effort, and we won by a neck. I never was more beaten,
however, myself in a race in my life. Of course I was
thoroughly out of condition, though, even if I had been
quite fit, it would have been still a severe race to ride.
The next day I received a most unexpected compliment.
A hospitable friend was giving a luncheon party before the
races began, when an owner of racehorses, with whom I
had but a very slight acquaintance, came up and asked if
I was the owner of the winner of the Hunt Cup. I
answered in the affirmative, when he made the remark,
" Ah, you owed that win to your jockey and not to the
horse." Being unaware that he was ignorant of who the
jockey had been, I felt much surprised, and as the others
began to laugh, he appeared nettled and repeated, " It's
quite true — it was the jockey who won that race." " Why,
he rode it himself," said a bystander, whereupon the other
hurriedly apologised and retired much confused. It was
certainly very amusing, but one could not help being pleased
at the compliment, unintentional though it was.

After " Elmina's " race at the Curragh I took her to
Cork Park, and seldom has a horse started with less amount
of " schooling " than she did. All the practice she had
had was to be led over a leaping-bar, and then to be jumped
over three jumps in a tiny paddock at Mr. M'Donald's
stables at Ashtown Gate. It was the only place I could
get to teach her to jump, as it was in the middle of
summer, and I should have given up the idea of going to
Cork unless that famous steeplechase rider, Mr. Allen
M'Donough, had declared that the mare jumped quite
well enough and was sure to win. Moreover, he had the
courage of his opinion and backed the mare. In the race
15

2 26 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

she ran very raw, though willing to try, and we soon got
some lengths behind the others. After a little while she
began to understand better how to take her fences, and we
gradually crept up again until a very awkward occurrence
happened, especially for such a green mount as mine was.
At the biggest bank in the course a horse, just in front on
the right, kicked back, and struck a huge piece of gorse
out of the bank, which came rolling over and over, just in
front of the mare at about the height of her head. I was
completely puzzled what to do, for there was no time to
avoid it. " Elmina," however, boldly charged into it
like a bullfinch, though in doing so she caught the
bank with her knees and pitched on to her head on
the far side.

I thought we were down, but she was very active and
was soon in her stride again, though we had lost some
lengths by the faux pas. We made up some of our leeway,
however, before we got to the bottom turn, and as there
was then only a hurdle to jump and a couple of easy
fences, I began to think we still had a chance.

As " Elmina " had been well schooled over the bar, I
rode confidently at the hurdle, thinking that at anyrate
she knew what " timber " was, but alas for my judgment !
The mare never rose at all, breaking every bar of the
hurdle, and again we had a great scramble to keep the
right side up. We managed it, however, though the leader
had got too far ahead to make things comfortable.
Fortunately, however, for me he jumped slowly at the two
last fences, and the mare, having now thoroughly got her
blood up, flew them like an accomplished steeplechaser,
landing at the other's quarters over the last jump. It was
then all over but shouting, as her speed on the flat stood

Some Racino' Experiences 227

her in good stead, and I was able to draw the race as close
as I pleased.

That evening I was offered and refused a thousand
pounds for the mare, but I eventually agreed to lease her
for one year for £400, The lease was duly drawn up
and the mare delivered over, but a sad fate was in store
for her. In the very first race she ran for her new owners,
on the flat at the Maze, she broke a leg and had to be
destroyed.

Thinking that it was rather hard upon the other party
to the contract, although I had lost my mare, I returned
them £100. Gratitude, however, is said to be for favours
to come and not for favours past, and as a report was
afterwards bruited about that I had not returned any
money, I began to feel sorry I had not kept it, as I had
the credit of having done so, and I needed it myself.

Poor " La Marchesa " also met with a fearful accident
shortly afterwards, which nearly put an end to her also.
She was an unlucky mare, as she first cut an artery in a
hind-leg, in the middle of the Wicklow Mountains one day
when we had run a hare there. I was entirely alone,
without any chance of assistance, and had the greatest
difliculty in arresting the copious bleeding. ISTo sooner
had she recovered from this accident than I took her out
one day to lead her over the banks and ditches in the
neighbourhood of Dublin, when an accident happened,
which is thus related in The Field newspaper, 20th
December 1890 :—

"Eecovery of Horse from Serious Wound.

" Sir, — Having been requested by several friends to
make public a very interesting case of successful treatment

2 28 The Co2irse, the Camp, the Chase

of a mare that was badly staked in the abdomen, we
have to request that you will find room for the following
account in your paper.

" R. F. Meysey-Thomfson (Colonel).

"Matthew Murphy, F.RC.V.S.L."

"On Jan. 7, 1879, Capt. R. F. Meysey-Thompson,
A.D.C, to Gen. Glyn, C.B., Commanding the Dublin
District, took out a six-year-old bay thoroughbred mare,
' La Marchesa,' to practise jumping, in a cavesson, having
with him as assistant one of the Ward runners, who are
commonly known as ' wreckers.' The mare had just
jumped over a bank and ditch covered with long grass,
when the assistant hurriedly called out, ' Come quick, sir,
something terrible has happened.' On running up.
Captain Meysey-Thompson found the mare's entrails pro-
truding from a wound close to the mammary gland, and
hanging down for some two feet. The mare was very
uneasy, and kicked at the intestines, swinging them
forward under her belly, so Captain Meysey-Thompson
caught them in his hand and laid them over his knee to
examine them, at the same time cautioning the man to
keep the mare as still as possible. The intestines being
found to be uninjured, there appeared to be a remote
chance of saving the animal, and a bandage was accord-
ingly made by tying the ends together of two large
handkerchiefs, which fortunately they happened to have
with them. On this the intestines were laid, the outer
ends of the handkerchiefs were twisted up, thus forming
a sort of bag in which they could repose as close to the
opening of the wound in the abdomen as they could
possibly be got, and the bandage was then secured by

Some Racing Expediences 229

fastening a whip-thong to one end, bringing it up between
the thighs, and securing it to the surcingle over the croup,
while the other end of the handkerchief was made safe by-
passing a band from the surcingle over the loins, round
the belly, and tying the handkerchief tightly to it.

" The question then arose. What should be done next ?
It appeared almost hopeless to expect to save the animal,
so it was thought best to try and get ' La Marchesa ' back
to Dublin with as little delay as possible, and without
going to that expense and trouble which would have been
thought necessary had the injury been less severe — the
mare being a very valuable one as a racehorse.

" There were two fences to cross before gaining the
road, and no gates. So further mishap was ' chanced,' the
mare was jumped over the banks, and landed in the road
without further injury, and without the bandage having
moved in the least.

" There were still five miles to travel before reaching
Dublin, and, to add to the misfortune, a severe frost was
setting in, and fast glazing the roads with ice. A horseman
happening to pass the party, he was informed of the
accident, and asked to acquaint Mr. Murphy, V.S., of
Parkgate Street, with it, and to request him to have
everything in readiness to throw the mare on her arrival.
Progress was necessarily slow, and Mr. Murphy's establish-
ment was not reached till 8.30 p.m., when the hobbles
were at once put on, and a large quantity of straw having
been built up against the animal, she was quietly slid on
to her side and secured ; but previous to being thrown
the bandage was undone, and the intestines then just
reached to her fetlocks.

" Captain Meysey-Thompson held them during the

230 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

operation of throwing, so as to lessen as far as possible
a chance of injury, and the mare received no harm
whatever. Mr. Murphy then most carefully and skill-
fully replaced them within the abdominal cavity — a work
that took more than an hour to perform, for, owing to the
struggles of the mare, at least 2 in. were constantly
forced out again for every 3 in. that were inserted.
However, at last all were replaced, and the lips of the
wound having been cleansed, it was closed by passing a
large iron skewer through the lips, and made fast with a
figure-of-8 suture of tow. The iron skewer was passed
through both the fascia and skin, just as a needle is passed
by a seamstress in long stitch ; and the mare, after being
allowed to rise, was given a dose of aconite, and a bran
mash, and left for the night. Very slight increase of
temperature supervened during the next few days, which
was easily kept in check by the administration of aconite,
and but for a slight discharge which proceeded from the
wound, the mare never ' looked back,' and was out hunting
before the close of the season. She afterwards was put to
the stud, and has produced four living foals and one dead
one since 1882 {&tiici Book, vol. xvi. p. 599)."

About two years after this occurrence, a mare of mine
called " Lurline," got blood poisoning in a hind-leg, from
getting a gorse spine into it, just when the sap was beginning
to run. As the mare carried her tail very badly, I thought
it a good opportunity to dock her when she was getting
better, but apparently her weak state could not stand the
operation, and " lock-jaw " supervened. The mare was
standing at Mr. W. M'Grane's stables, the famous dealer
in Park Street, and I treated her myself. After battling

Some Racing Experiences 231

with the disease for some time, it at length left her, but
she was so extremely weak that it seemed quite a toss-up
whether she would recover or not.

There was a very hard frost at the time, and one
evening I called at the stables on my return from skating,
as I was anxious about the mare, and it was fortunate I
did so. The pulse on the left side had entirely stopped,
and was barely perceptible on the right side, and so feeble,
that I called to the groom to prepare some gruel at once, and
to fetch also half a tumbler of whisky. He had to go to a
public-house to fetch the latter, and before he returned, in
about twenty minutes' time, the mare had lain down, and
was almost motionless. If a well-bred horse lies down
when he is really ill, it is nearly always to die, for he will
remain on his legs and fight to the very last ; while an
under-bred one gives in, and collapses very easily. Mixing
the whisky and gruel together, we poured it down her throat
as she lay, and then with my fingers on the pulse, the
latter suddenly began to be perceptible again, and in a few
minutes was beating quite regularly. That stimulant was
administered just in time. In half an hour she got
up, at once commenced to eat some mash, and we never
had any further cause for anxiety about her recovery.

There are two institutions in Ireland with which she
can challenge the world. The Dublin Horse Show and
Punchestown. In these she is facile princeps. Punches-
town was a fortunate meeting for me, and at my last visit
I carried off the Grand Military Hunters' Eace and the
Conyngham Cup on the same afternoon, and each horse I
had purchased for exactly the same sum, £40. " Belmont,"
who won the latter race, was, I think, the finest stayer I
ever knew, and his race for the Conyngham Cup was a

232 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

marvellous performance. I was too ill to ride myself, and
Mr. W. Murland had the mount, and right well did he
acquit himself. A few weeks earlier, before we had begun
to put " Belmont " into regular work, I was hunting him
with the Westmeath hounds, when he crawled about the
steep sides of Knock Ion like any old shooting pony. A
lady came up and said, "Is not that 'Belmont'?" and I
replied in the affirmative. " But I heard you are going to
run him again," she continued ; " why is he here ? " " So
I shall run him," was my answer. " What for," was the
next astonished query. " Well," I replied, " I am not
quite sure yet, but I think first for the Dunboyne Plate at
Fairyhouse, and then for the Conyngham Cup at Punches-
town." He did run for these races, and won them both.

I have always found that if care is taken not to
overdo a horse out hunting, and he is put into regular
training about six weeks before his race, the hunting does
him all the good in the world ; but of course it must be
made subservient to the good of the horse, and the latter
not be sacrificed for the sake of the chase.

" Belmont " was very shifty in a race, and given to
bolting if he was in front, the only jockey that he never
got out with being that splendid rider, poor Eoddy Owen.
His jockey, therefore, invariably had orders never to take
the lead till near the winning-post, yet, however fast the
pace might be, to lie up at the quarters of the leader, for
no horse could ever get " Belmont " into trouble.

In the Conyngham Cup — which is a four miles race
over the big course at Punchestown — one horse, " Kil-
bride," overpowered his jockey at starting, and came at
such a pace that Mr. Murland thought that he could
never be expected to keep with him, and tlierefore followed

Some Racing Experiences 233

some twenty yards behind ; the other jockeys, seeing " Bel-
mont" was by himself, kept about the same distance
behind him, so as to give him a chance of bolting if
possible.

In this order they came past the stand, when just as
" Belmont " was opposite the paddock he made a bolt for
it, went over the ropes, and in amongst the carriages.
The other jockeys, seeing what had happened, immediately
put on their best pace, so that " Belmont " should not
have a chance of getting up again.

In order to be prepared for eventualities, I was stand-
ing on the bottom step of the stand, and when I saw what
had happened I rushed to the paddock gate to get on to
the course. Like an Irishman, the gatekeeper would not
let me out, and I had to climb over the railings and drop
down. Someone had cut the ropes, and with my umbrella
I beat " Belmont " back into the course, and then won-
dered what Murland would do.

All this had taken some time. There is a gap left
in the hedge next to the stand, and the first leap is there-
fore two fields' distance away. As " Belmont " got fairly
into the course, he caught sight of the last horse, who was
just jumping this fence, while the others were well strung
out in front. The moment " Belmont " saw that horse he
laid himself out to catch him, and very speedily he did so.
The word was soon passed up that " ' Belmont ' was
coming," and the . jockeys in front urged their horses to
their best speed for fear he should catch them. It was
one of the most exciting races I every saw in my life.
At the " double " there were only three horses left in front
of " Belmont " ; at the wall there were only two left ; when
the leader turned into the straight " Belmont " had passed

2 34 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

the second horse, and was now close at his quarters.
Both jockeys were riding their hardest, and both horses
were responding in the gamest fashion. Fifty yards from
home there is a slight ascent, and the moment they
reached it " Belmont " had his head in front, and won by
a neck ; " Turpin " being second, and " Gentle Annie " a
bad third. Considering the pace at which the early part of
the race was run, and the distance that " Belmout " had to
make up, it was truly a marvellous performance, and well
worthy his high lineage, " by ' Cambuslaug ' — ' Geraldine '
by ' Solon ' — ' Gramachree,' the own sister to ' Faugh a
Ballagh ' and ' Irish Birdcatcher.' "

" Belmont " and " Camllo," my two winners that day,
were both small horses, as far as height goes, for neither
of them were quite 15.1 J, but they were lengthy and
very muscular : the old proverb is very right, " it is
symmetry and action that carry weight."

Another winner of a big four miles steeplechase that
I have trained was " Monkshood," by " Uncas " out of
the "Abbess," by "Confessor." He had a rather clubby
near fore-foot, and I bought him at Tattersall's at a
reasonable price in consequence. In consequence of ill
health I was unable to train him at first, so Tom Cannon
kindly took him in at Danebury, and when he made his
debut at Sandown Park he ran second, being beaten half a
length by " Chancellor," with " Johnny Longtail " three
lengths behind, who were afterwards third and fourth
for the Liverpool Grand National. We then put him
by until the next season, when 1 was able to attend
to him myself, and, ridden by Eoddy Owen, he won
the Grand National Hunters' Eace — run that year at
Derby — by ten lengths. When Owen was changing

Some Racing Experiences 235

in the dressing-room, I particularly pointed out to him
the jacket that he was to wear, telling him that this
was the lucky one, while another that was also there
was a very unlucky one. I did not see him again
till the horses were being mounted, and he had so many
friends to talk to, that he was very late, so that nearly all
the horses had already gone on to the course before he
appeared. The first thing I saw when he unbuttoned his
greatcoat was that he had got the wrong jacket on, and
told him so. He declared nothing should induce him to
ride in an unlucky one, and that he must change it. So I
ran and fetched the other, in an agony of apprehension
that he would be too late at the post. Snatching the
jacket from me, Owen rushed into the refreshment bar,
being the only available place near, and, while the wait-
resses ran giggling into a corner, he just waved his hand
to them, and exclaiming, " Don't look, don't look, I haven't
time to go elsewhere," proceeded to doff the one garment
and don the other. He had to go at a hand gallop to the
post, and then riding a beautifully timed and well-ridden
race, landed the " lucky jacket " again a winner.

Mindful of former experiences, I trained " Monks-
hood " for a long time on the sea-beach at Scarborough
during a very hard and continuous frost, and Owen
told me he thought he had never ridden a horse in
more perfect condition. From various causes the horse
never got a fair chance again in England, and for some
years carried my wife very well to hounds, instead of
racing. Then I sold him to go to India, to win a mile
race on the flat, which he did with ease, and there I
believe he still remains.

CHAPTER XIX.

Anecdotes of Former Days.

A WILD-GOOSE chase proverbially depends much upon
chance, and in that respect may be said to resemble the
modern Point-to-Point Steeplechase. The great gathering
place of wild fowl in the North, Strensall Common, was
sold a few years ago by my cousin, Mr. Leonard Thompson,
of Sheriff Hutton Park, to the Government, by whom
it was, alas, drained, in order to make it a second
Aldershot, and the wild geese, wild swans, green-shanks,
red-shanks, ruffs, and reeves, and other commoner sorts
that frequented it, have now become only another historical
memory.

The geese used to arrive at dusk, in " skeins," till
many hundreds were gathered together, but they only
passed the night there, and went off at dawn to their
various feeding-places for the day. They chiefly fed
on the warplands along the Humber, but in the spring-
time numbers used to frequent the Wolds, and other
hilly districts for many miles round, to feed upon the
young growing wheat.

The shooting of the Common was given for many
years to the Ptev. Frank Simpson, Vicar of Foston, and
that keen naturalist and sportsman used to spend hours
and days in hiding-places on the marshy land, observing
the habits of the various wild birds that frequented it.

Anecdotes of Former Days 237

Often he had to wait many hours at night for a shot,
quite unable to see sufficiently clearly to make out where-
abouts the geese were, although well within distance all the
time, and listening to their splashing and playing in the
water not many yards from him. The merest glimmer of
light for a second or two was quite sufficient for him
to be able to see the direction, and, though the darkness
closed in again immediately, he made most successful
shots, even with such precarious opportunities. On one
occasion he even " went one better," for, after waiting
till past midnight without the slightest lifting of the
murky darkness, he fired at length in despair, and made
one of the most successful shots in his life. The next
morning he picked up nine dead Bean geese, all slain
at that single shot with a shoulder gun, and heard
besides of one or two more being caught wounded on
the neighbouring farms. A few feathers from each goose,
strung in tufts on a string, have hung in his " sanctum "
ever since to signalise that memorable night.

On another occasion Mr. Simpson went fast asleep
during his long night watch, and, on waking up, found
himself covered by a fall of snow with the geese close
to him, when, snatching up his gun, he succeeded in
securing seven of them at one shot. At other times he
slew five geese at one discharge ; and fourteen mallard
(of which, curiously, seven were drakes and seven were
ducks), after strenuous crawling to approach the birds
through rough heather, reeds, and swamp. He had two
five-bore guns that he used for this work, one a single
and the other a double-barrel. The single carried 10 drs.
of powder and 5 oz. of shot, S.S.G., 17 shot corns going
to the oz. The double gun was loaded with half the

238 The Course, the Camp^ the Chase

above charge in either barrel. Truly they were prodigious
weapons for a long tramp in a wild-goose chase, and few
men would care to fire such powerful charges, though
the above records prove how effectual they were.

In other forms of sport Mr. Simpson has also greatly
distinguished himself, especially in long-distance skating
when at Cambridge. In 1837 he backed himself to
skate from Cambridge to Ely and back, a total distance of
80 miles, in four hours. This he accomplished with
great ease, and he then issued a challenge to skate the
same course against any amateur. The challenge was
taken up by a Mr. Potter of Pemberton College. Mr.
Simpson knew that his opponent was very fast for a short
distance, and probably had the speed of him, and after
they had covered about five miles, finding that his
opponent remained close behind him, evidently hoping
to win by speed at the finish, he determined to force
the pace and tire him out if he could possibly do so.

Do what he would, however, he never could get away
from the other, who kept just behind him all the way.
When they had covered 37 miles of the return journey —
77 miles in all — a large crowd was waiting to come in
with them, but the two competitors were able to leave
all the others behind in the last three miles, although
the latter were perfectly fresh.

Mr. Simpson managed to retain his lead to the end,
winning, with very little to spare, in the very fast time
of 2 hrs. 36 min., being just under 2 min. for each mile
the whole way.

At the very end of the race victory was all but
snatched from his grasp. In making the winning stroke,
an accident to his skate very nearly robbed him of the

A nee dotes, of Former Days 239

race, for as he struck out for the last time the blade of
his skate snapped right in half, which must have caused
him to lose if it had happened but a few yards earlier.

A very keen angler, Mr. Simpson was one of the
earliest Englishmen to visit the now celebrated river
Namsen, in Norway, and famous sport he had there. The
heaviest fish he killed was 37 lb., though one of 30 lb.
gave the greatest play. Five others between those two
weights, and so large a number of smaller ones, that at
last there was no more room to make any more " nicks "
on the rod to record each fish, made up an extraordinary
" bag," even for Norway.

It may be added that Mr. Simpson, for more than
twenty-five years, has kept his stables filled with hunters
and carriage-horses entirely of his own breeding, while
the prizes are innumerable that he has won with them
at the local shows. Twice, since he was eighty years of
age, has it happened to him to see his birthday in, when
at a ball in York, and certainly on one occasion he
was one of the first at the meet on the following
morning. Verily he may be termed the G.O.M. of York-
shire, for he has taken a foremost place among the
sportsmen who have made their county's name so famous.

Another great Yorkshireman was lately taken from
us, Mr. Eichard Johnson, the famous north-country racing
judge, who died on Thursday, 7th April 1898, in his
eighty-fifth year. He was born in York in 1813, and
lived in that city all his life, beloved by everyone who had
the pleasure of his acquaintance. No keener-witted or
more straightforward man ever existed, and nothing ever
put him out ; whatever the company, and however great
the excitement the same measured, courteous language,

240 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

ever flowed from his lips. As he never spoke without
having first thought over what he was going to say, he
never varied from his statement, and his opinion was
relied upon by everyone who sought it, while his memory
was marvellous.

In 1892 I had a long conversation with him about
racing, and jotted down his views as follows : —

" I am eighty years of age next birthday, and I have
seen some ups and downs in that time. I was judge for
forty years. No, I did not judge in the match between
'Flying Dutchman' and ' Voltigeur ' ; that was in 1851,
and I did not begin till the next year. ' Dutchman ' won
pretty easy ; he would have won the year before, but Lord
Eglinton made a mess of it ; he wanted to make a show
of his horse, and he told Marson, ' Now, just you go on as
hard as you can, and win as far as possible.' If he had
told him to wait he would have won, as the horse was
not quite fit. ' Voltigeur ' ran the dead-heat with ' Euss-
borough ' on the Wednesday, and then ran off the dead-
heat ; and won the Cup the next day. It never was a
dead-heat. ' Voltigeur ' won right enough the first time,
only Clarke gave it against him. I stood close to Clarke's
box, and I never said a word. Clarke used to have both
York and Doncaster, and he wanted to give up, and said
to me, ' Now I think we can arrange this. I'll give York
to you, if you will let my son have Doncaster,' and so we
settled it. I was judge forty years. I saw ' Blacklock '
win here on Knavesmire. He was a wiry, hot, fidgety
horse, but a rare stayer.

" Yes, it isn't always easy to judge in close races, till
you've had practice, then it's as easy as A B C. I could
always tell at the distance who was going to win. Archer

Anecdotes of Former Days 241

was rather troublesome. He would be riding hard apparently
at the distance, and then come and win by a head, with
7 lb, in hand. Was Archer the best jockey I ever saw ?
Oh dear no. Archer was good, and so was Fordham, but
Frank Butler was the best, and Tom Aldcroft was very
good. Are the horses different in shapes from what I
first remember ? Yes, very different, but they do not
stay nearly so well now. No doubt they are faster than
ever they were, but they are taller and longer, and much
more leggy. I remember ' Blacklock ' and ' Altisidora.'
They would not be many crosses from the Arab, great-
grandsons and so on, and much resembled them. How
much weight did I allow when handicapping ? Well,
generally 2 lb. for a head, but if the race had been
very severe, or the weights very high, perhaps only 1 lb. ;
1 to 2 lb. would be about right. Five lb. would go to a
length, for say a mile, or a mile and a half. Undoubtedly
you must take into consideration if the pace was good all
the way, and if the horses were carrying nearly as heavy
weights as they could race under."

Poor Judge Johnson. He is sadly missed at the
councils of the York Eace Committee, and by his many
friends all over Yorkshire.

There is one remark of his that requires to be well
weighed, and coincides, too, with the opinions of the
practical men I have met, who lived in the early days of
the century. I mean that the racehorses in old days
were much better stayers than they are now, and at the
same time were shorter-legged and more compact. All
have attributed it to the same cause — the nearness of
their descent from the Arabian. In these days when
many are complaining that the thoroughbred horse, as a
16

242 The Coitrse, the Camp, the Chase

rule, is not so adapted as he was for improving the
stamp of our hunters, why are the services of the Arabian
not more sought for procuring those qualities than the
thoroughbred of the present day is alleged to be
deficient in ? There is no difficulty, at present, in pur-
chasing Arabian stallions of the very highest class, since
Mr. Wilfrid Blunt annually holds a sale at Crabbet Park,
Sussex, of his surplus stock, which have either been pro-
cured direct from Arabia at vast trouble and expense, or
have been bred with the greatest care from animals
imported by him.

There is a curious old book, written by one in the last
century, who must have been a consummate judge, from
which much information may be gleaned, and I think the
following extracts are well worthy of perusal. The work
is entitled A Dissertation on Horses, by William Osmer,
and was printed in 1756. It is very a apropos of the
present time : —

" I do here lay it down as a certain truth, that no
horses but such as come from foreign countries, or which
are of extraction totally foreign, can race. In this opinion
every man will readily join me, and this opinion will be
confirmed by every man's experience and observation. . . .
Such horses who have the finest texture, elegance of shape,
and most proportion, are the best racers, let their blood be
of what kind it will, always supposing it to be totally
foreign.

" If I was asked what beauty was, I should say pro-
portion ; if I was asked what strength was, I should say
proportion also ; but I would not be understood to mean
that this strength and beauty alone will constitute a racer,
for we shall find a proper length also will be wanted for

Anecdotes of Former Days 243

the sake of velocity. . . . Whoever has been curious
enough to examine the mechanism of different horses
by dissection will find the tendon of the leg in a foreign
horse is much larger than in any other horse, whose leg
is of the same dimensions. . . . How many instances have
we of different horses beating each other alternately over
different sorts of ground ! how often do we see short, close,
compact horses beating others of a more lengthened shape,
over high and hilly courses, as well as deep and slippery
ground. . . . And how comes it to pass that horses of a
more lengthened shape have a superiority over horses of a
shorter make, upon level and flat courses ? . . .

" But I much fear our distinctions of good and bad
blood are determined with much partiality, for every
jockey has his particular favourite blood, of which he
judges from events, success, or prejudice ; else how comes
it to pass that we see the different opinions and fashions of
blood varying daily ? Nay, we see the very same blood
undergoing the very same fate ; this year rejected, the
next in the highest esteem ; or this year in high repute,
the next held at nothing. . . .

"The blood is worn out for want of a proper cross,
one tells us, but these reasons cannot be true, because we
see the offspring of all crosses, and of the most ancient
families, occasionally triumphing over the sons of the very
latest comers. . . .

" Our observation shows us that on the one hand we
may breed horses of foreign extraction too delicate and too
light for any labour, and on the other hand so coarse and
clumsy as to be fitter for the cart than the race. Shall
we then wonder that these cannot race ? . . .

" Whilst this continues to be the rule of breeding. I

244 The Course, the Cajnp, the Chase

mean of putting male and female together, with no con-
sideration but that of blood and a proper cross, it is no
wonder that so few good racers are produced.

" I would not be thought in this to prefer my own
opinion of shape and make to the known goodness of any
stallion, but would prefer the latter before the opinion of
all mankind. . . .

" It is not every horse who has been a good racer will
get good colts. . . . But the most material thing in
breeding in all animals, and to which we pay the least
regards, either in the race of men or horses, is the choice
of the female . . . and here I beg leave to be allowed one
quotation from Virgil, in the 3rd chapter of the Georgics
and the 49 th verse.

* Seu quis olympiaco miratus prcemia palmo
Pascit equos, Seu quis fortes ad aratra Juvencos,
Corpora prsecipue matrum legat.'

" We pay little regard to the mechanism of the female
or of the horse to which we put her, but generally choose
some particular horse for the sake of the cross, or because
he is called an Arabian. . . .

" Amongst dogs we shall find the foxhound prevailing
over all others in speed and in bottom, but if not in speed,
in bottom at least I hope it will be allowed. To what
shall we impute this perfection in him ? Shall we impute
it to his blood or to that elegance of form in which is found
no unnecessary weight to oppress the muscles or detract
from his ability of perseverance ? . . .

" Surely no man means more when he talks of the
blood of foxhounds than to intimate that they are
descended from such, whose ancestors have been eminent
for their good qualifications, and have shone conspicuous in

Anecdotes of Former Days 245

the front of the pack for many generations. ... In any
given and proportionate length, from the bosom of the
horse to the setting on of the dock, the nearer the superior
points of the shoulders approach to the quarters, so much
better able will the carcase be to sustain and bring through
the weight ; and as much as the shoulders themselves pre-
vail in depth, and the thighs and quarters in length, so
much greater will be the velocity of the horse, because a
greater purchase of ground is hereby obtained at every stroke.

" It is by this propriety of length, strength of carcase,
and the powers of the muscles that foreign horses excel
all others."

There is much food for reflection in the above work.
The pith lies in the last sentence, which admirably refutes
the advocates of the hackney, when speed and jumping
power is required as in the hunter. It is in the absence
of " length " in himself and his stock that the hackney is
a failure for getting hunters.

It should ever be remembered that the Arab has been

bred for centuries for activity and endurance rather than

for racing speed — qualities much required in the hunter.

Some years ago there was a great match to test the above,

and I was fortunate to be able to write down the account

of it, one day at Cadiz, from the lips of Mr. J. Eeade who

was umpire on the occasion. Mr. Eeade was then in the

consular service, an excellent judge of a horse and of racing,

and the handicapper at all the chief race meetings in Spain.

EACE FOE 85 MILES

FOR £1000

Between an Arab and an English tJiorouglibred,

at Cairo, 1865.

246 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

" In the autumn of 1865 a match was made between an
Englishman, living at Alexandria, named Frederick Smart,
and Halim Pasha, the uncle of the present Viceroy of
Egypt (1876), to run a thoroughbred English five-year-old
horse, ' Alabama,' formerly belonging to Mr. Ten Broeck,
against an Arab bay five-year-old horse, ' Handani,' 14
hands 1 in. high, of the Anezeh breed, to carry 10 st.
each, and to run from Cairo to Suez, a distance of eighty-
five miles.

" It was afterwards altered, and it was agreed to run a
race of the same length, but to start from Cairo, to turn
round a point midway between that city and Suez, and to
terminate at Cairo, keeping along the old mail road, which
was very hard and pebbly.

" ' Alabama ' was ridden by an old man named Marsh,
seventy years of age, who was well known with the Quorn,
and who came out from England for the race. ' Handani '
was ridden by an Arab, ' Clerket,' who was the head groom
of Halim Pasha.

" They started at 10.30 a.m. on a bitterly cold day
from the Abbasia Palace, on the outskirts of Cairo, an
immense quantity of people being present, and both at
once went off at a hand gallop. ' Alabama ' carefully
picked his way along the pebbly road and followed the
camel track, being totally unused to such ground, while
the Arab, being thoroughly at home, galloped away as
straight as an arrow.

" Mr. Eeade, the English Consul, had been appointed
umpire, and, having started them, immediately got into a
special train with General Stanton, and they went to the
nearest point they could to the turning-post; they could
not get nearer, however, in the train than five miles from the

Anecdotes of Former Days 247

flag, and on arriving at the station found horses waiting
for them,

" They at once galloped on to where they supposed
was the place, but mistaking a road-side station which was
three miles short of the proper distance for the turning-
post, they had to gallop on with the competitors, who
were only a few minutes later in reaching the same place.
They were going so fast that Mr. Eeade's horse, though a
fine one, and fresh, had to do all he could to keep up with
them. The time to the flag where they turned was 3
hours 10 minutes.

" On arriving at the flag the Arab at once turned and
continued the ride homewards without stopping, while
Marsh pulled up, wisped his horse over and washed his
mouth out with gin and water, the horse immediately
taking advantage of his short rest to ease himself.

" Both horses were, however, so fit that they had
hardly turned a hair.

" When the Arab had got nearly a quarter of a mile
on his homeward journey, Marsh started again, and soon
catching up the Arab, they went on together. Mr. Eeade
returned to the train, but only arrived in Cairo about half
an hour before the Arab appeared by himself, having done
the distance a few minutes under seven hours, the English
horse having gone lame in one of his hind tendons about
eighteen miles from Cairo.

" On approaching to within 300 yards from the
winning-post, the Arab raced in at the top of his speed,
on receiving a signal from Halim Pasha, and pulled up,
apparently fresh. The rider, when weighed in, was found
to have lost 2 lb. in weight, but Smart insisted on
Halim Pasha receivincj the stakes.

248 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

" ' Alabama ' was soon afterwards got right, and raced
for and won several races at Cairo and Alexandria. The
Arab was never of any use afterwards, suffering from an
affection of the kidneys, brought on from having had no
opportunity of relieving himself at the turning-post, as
' Alabama ' had. He died before long, after living for
some time in a paddock belonging to his owner."

Mr. Eeade's opinion was that the English horse was
more leg-weary than anything else when he was pulled up,
but that he had been handled much more judiciously than
the Arab was, the latter being ridden over rocks or any
other impediments, just as they came in the way. From
want of an opportunity to relieve himself, the winner
must have been running in great distress the latter part
of the journey, and been a truly gallant horse.

CHAPTER XX.

Hunting Sketches.

Many years ago — it was in fact in 1876 — we had a run
with the Bramham Moor, which for enjoyment and
thorough completeness was, for the time it lasted, I think,
the best in my experience. It was but fifteen minutes in
duration and about four miles in distance, but in that
brief space was concentrated an amount of excitement
and exultation, that makes a run of this description remain
a bright spot in the dim vista of past years, like a par-
ticularly glittering star in the firmament. I confess I
thoroughly hold with the late Major Whyte Melville when
he says, " It is pace that puts life into the chase." A long
hunting run may be enjoyable in its way, and produce
plenty of incident. It lacks, however, the glorious
excitement of the gallop, when scent is breast-high, when
the pack begins to lengthen out as the faster members of
it forge their way to the front, and when all your skill is
required, though mounted on a bold, big-jumping, thorough-
bred horse, to keep the leading hounds in view, as they
fairly race over a sound grass country. Then it is that
the wonderful strength of the hind-quarters of a hunter is
thoroughly shown. In a really fast gallop it is said that
there should not be time to go a hundred yards out of the
line, or to stop to open a gate unless it is exactly in your
way, without losing the hounds; and fences of extraordinary

250 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

height and width are negotiated, which in cold blood seem
almost impossible to be compassed with success. It is
often a source of wonderment to me how those slight hind-
legs can launch such a weight — which, including the rider,
amounts to 12 cwt. or 13 cwt., and often more than that
— over high timber and wide, deep ditches ; and how
those slender fore-legs can receive the shock of the landing
without being splintered into small fragments. Think of
the courage and patience of the horse in carrying a heavy-
rider all day in all sorts of ground, and having to lift him
over many fences. How many men are there who can
carry a sack of oats one hundred yards ? It only weighs
twelve stones ! How many men could lift a sack and a
half and run with it. That is only sixteen stones. Do
have pity on your horse then in a long day's hunting. Do
not go and jump an uncalled-for fence, simply because it
gives you pleasure to do so, when you can walk quietly
through a gap or a gate without losing your place. Do
not gallop him unnecessarily when going from covert to
covert, instead of jogging quietly along with the rest of the
field. That extra exertion may just make the difference if
you have a run later on. The muscles can only do a
certain amount of work without tiring, and there is only a
certain amount of nervous energy to be expended. If you
use this up, when it is not wanted, there will be none at
your service when your moment of need arrives. It will
be brought home to you when your tired horse chances a
strong grower instead of clearing it, or drops short into a
wide ditch.

On the occasion above referred to, we had done very
little till about 2 p.m., when, in going through Ingmanthorpe
Park, a fox was seen just before us, not far from

Httnting Sketches 251

the Wetherby Eoad, and pointing in the direction of
Bickerton. The hounds were quickly laid on, there was a
magnificent scent, and we were scarcely half a field behind
the fox at the start, nor was he ever able to increase his
lead the whole way. Being fortunately mounted on an
extremely good horse, " Mullingar," belonging to my
brother, and seeing from the way that the hounds started
what a scent there was, I did my utmost to keep up with
the pack. The knowledge that a very big drain was at
hand caused nearly the whole field to go round by the gate,
and we never saw them again. I scarcely lost sight of
the fox the whole way, for as each fence was jumped he
was only half-way across the next field, and with the
exception of one small bit of plough at starting, the whole
run was over grass. The fox ran as straight as an arrow,
only making a slight detour in the last field, where there
was a quantity of flood-water half-way across, and round
which he skirted. As he did so, and showed his broadside,
the leading hounds caught sight of him and raced him to
the next fence, where he dashed through a few posts
blocking up a gap, into a green lane close to Tockwith.
The hounds were of course unsighted, and crashed into the
road after him, and at once threw up their heads.

Just at that instant there was a " view holloa " some
way higher up, and though I felt surprised at the moment
that the fox could have got so far in the short time that
had elapsed since I had seen him go through the fence, I
was on the verge of endeavouring to get the hounds on to
the holloa when a rustle in the fence at my feet caused me
to stop. At first I thought it might be a hound crawling
through, but this did not prove to be the case. A
favourite saying of the late Sir C. Slingsby then flashed

252 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

into my mind, " that a blown fox lies down as soon as he
can," and cracking my whip over the place, had the supreme
satisfaction of seeing the fox jump out, when he was of
course instantly killed. One other follower of the hunt,
who had ridden the run, and the well-known " Peter "
Wilkinson, saw the fox broken up. As soon as the latter had
seen the way the fox was going, he had galloped down the
road as hard as he could and got there just in time for the
finale. Before anyone else arrived nothing but fragments
remained, and when the late Mr. G. Lane Fox came up, I
never saw him more delighted in my life, although he was
rather by way of preferring long hunting runs to the short
and merry ones. " Peter " Wilkinson had been one of the
associates of the Marquis of Hastings, and the story of his
connection with " Lecturer " has often been told. After
the Marquis had struck out all his candidates for the
Cesarewitch, " Lecturer " happened to be put into a trial,
and won so easily that it was in anguish of spirit that
Lord Hastings and John Day recalled the fact that the
horse was no longer able to start. Suddenly it was
remembered that from some whim " Lecturer " had been
entered in Mr. H. V. Wilkinson's name instead of that of
the Marquis, and therefore the fatal order to scratch all the
horses of the latter did not apply to him. He was
accordingly very heavily backed, and won the race. As
soon as the horse had passed the winning-post, and been
weighed in, a prominent bookmaker came up to Wilkinson,
who had owed him a heavy sum for a considerable
time, and said, " Now sir, you've won a pot of money, and
I am very glad of it, but I've been very good to you, and
never yet asked you for what you owe me. I think you
must pay up now." " Oh, certainly," replied " Peter," " you

Huntmg Sketches 253

really have been a good chap, and you shall be the first
man I pay. Come and have a drink for luck." Too
confiding, the bookmaker went with him into the refresh-
ment tent, and Wilkinson then said, " What is it to be, old
man — champagne, of course, eh ? " Champagne was
decided upon, and just as the bookmaker was raising his
glass to his lips, Wilkinson exclaimed, " Oh, by Jove, I
have left my purse at the carriage. I must just run over
and fetch it to pay for the wine. Don't go, I'll be back
in a minute." The minutes followed each other quickly,
but no signs of Wilkinson appeared, and the bookmaker
finally had to pay for the champagne for both. As for
being the first man whose debts were to be paid, it might
have been quite true that he would have been, if
Wilkinson had ever settled with any one at all, but, as he
never commenced to do so, the debt remained in statu qiio
for ever.

I began hunting on a pony in the spring of 1859,
when the York and Ainsty met at Providence Green under
Sir C. Slingsby, who was both master and huntsman. A
very excellent run, too, we had on my opening day, finding
a fox at once in Cattal Springs, and running him to the
banks of the Ure opposite Newby Hall, and finally losing
him amongst the gardens at Eipon. Sir Charles would
probably have killed him, but just when the hounds were
getting close to the fox, he crossed the line, and a train
coming by at the time, caused the pack to be stopped till
it had passed, so the fox escaped.

No one could have begun hunting under better auspices,
for the neighbouring pack was the Bramham Moor, Mr.
George Lane Fox being the master, and Charles Treadwell
the huntsman, each very celebrated as being perfect

2 54 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

in their respective spheres, i'rom the immense weight of
Treadwell, it was scarcely to be expected that the runs
would be especially quick, as no horse could have carried
him to the front in very fast things, and furthermore, the
country was chiefly plough, with very small enclosures.
What Treadwell's weight was I do not know, but he was
popularly supposed to weigh eighteen stone without his
saddle. He was, however, a most superior man, a most
excellent servant, and thoroughly understood hunting in
all its branches. So long as a fox remained above ground,
he was pretty sure to catch him in the end, although it
might take him a long time to do so. Mr. Lane-Fox and
he had brought the Bramham Moor Hounds to an extremely
high pitch of excellence, and in good looks and symmetry,
combined with hunting powers, there were few packs to
equal and none to excel them.

The character of packs in general is at present, I think,
on a very much higher level than it was then. It was
rather uncommon at that time to find such necks and
shoulders as are frequently seen now ; but it was no
uncommon thing to find many throaty hounds, and others
not quite straight, even in packs of great pretensions. In
the field, however, I see no difference ; hounds ran just as
fast formerly as they do at the present time, and they had
as much dash, drive, and scenting powers. It is only " on
the Hags " that a difference can be noted.

The York and Ainsty were most fortunate in having
such a wonderful huntsman as Sir Charles Slingsby. There
are two or three living huntsmen that seem to me as good
as he was ; and one that is deceased, the late Mr. Burton
Persse, of the Galway Blazers, had a style very similar to
his. I think, however, that of all the many huntsmen I

I

Hiinting Sketches 255

have hunted with, the few who were fit to be put into the
same class with Sir Charles could be counted on the fingers
of one hand.

He was very quiet with his hounds, but very quick
when they required help ; a most patient drawer of coverts,
thoroughly searching the portions favourable for holding a
fox, and scarcely ever leaving one behind. He had great
sympathy with canine nature, and so well understood the
ways of a fox that he seemed to know by instinct where it
was going, and what was passing through its mind, in every
phase of the run. In making a " cast " he constantly held
forward to some well-known spot which a fox would be
sure to pass when travelling in that direction, and ninety-
nine times out of a hundred he was right. His great aim
was to be constantly on the back of his fox, and to save
every second of time that was possible, for he always kept in
view how fast a fox gets over the ground, even at the
lolloping pace it travels at, in the later stages of a run.

If a fox beat him fairly, he seldom rested till he could
account for what had become of him, and I have known
him go again and again, on subsequent days, to the spot
where he had lost him, to solve the problem of his dis-
appearance. A fox was once accounted for in a curious
way. We found him at Stillington towards the end of
October, and had a very fast, straight run past Sheriff'
Hutton Castle, shortly after which the scent suddenly died
away in a lane, with high banks on each side. In vain did
Sir Charles cast round ; the hounds could make nothing of
it, and reluctantly he had to take them away. The next
day a farmer wrote to say that he had got the fox, and Sir
Charles might have him if he cared to send over for him.
It appeared that a travelling tinker had been passing along

256 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

and met the fox, dead beaten, who tried to get up the bank
out of the road. The fox was so exhausted that the tinker
caught it, and had just popped it into a bag, when the
hounds came up, which was the first that he knew of their
being in the neighbourhood. Though he was questioned as
to whether he had seen the fox, he had said " No," fearing
to get himself into trouble if he produced the fox in the
sack, but he took it to this farmer, as soon as the coast was
clear, and delivered it up to him. The fox, however, had
been run into the neighbouring country. Lord Middleton's,
and the etiquette of hunting, therefore, prevented the York
and Ainsty from having any claim upon it. The farmer
was accordingly directed to set it free, and it probably
returned immediately to its accustomed haunts.

How the pack of those days comes again in fancy
before me ! " Layman," the apple of Sir Charles' eye,
one of the truest hunters, ever one of the foremost in
running, and never tired, but not a very powerful-
looking hound. He was used very much though as
a stallion hound, and transmitted much of his own
excellence to his progeny. He had one peculiarity — always
securing the fox's head when there was a kill, and
carrying it triumphantly till the next draw. In those
days it was not the fashion to attach the fox's mask to
the whip's saddle, as is now the case. When " Layman's "
son, " Villager," however, joined the pack, he ousted his
father from his position, and took the fox's head himself.
" Villager " was a remarkably fine, muscular hound, and
it was at my special request that he was not drafted, on
account of being too big, when the puppies came in from
walk. I had known him well, and had a great fancy
for him, both on account of his good looks, and because

Hzmting Sketches 257

he was such a determined hunter when " at walk."
Perhaps Sir Charles did not take much pressing to give
him a chance. He entered at once, and from the very
first was one of the keenest hounds in the pack. There
was no question of drafting him then. He was so
much more powerful than poor old " Layman," that the
latter had to knock under at once and relinquish the
coveted head to his younger rival.

If anything, old " Eosebud," a curious-coloured mealy
or badger-pied hound, was still more dear to Sir Charles
than even " Layman." He was wont to say that she had
NEVER made a mistake, and she had extraordinary low-
scenting powers. On the driest road, or the most dusty
of fallows, when not another hound could own the line
at all, old " Eosebud " would just keep slowly moving
along the line, perhaps for half a mile at a time, when
suddenly the others would catch the scent as we got
upon better ground, and many is the fox that was
eventually killed through " Eosebud " having been able
to keep to the line, without Sir Charles having had to
make a cast to recover it. She was a hound, too, of
tremendous courage, and if a fox was at bay in a tight
corner " Eosebud " was usually let in to draw him.
Sir Charles was in the habit of constantly killing foxes
in unlooked-for situations, and he seemed to have a
natural instinct to guide him as to when a fox was
likely to have secreted himself about houses, farm-
buildings, or similar places. One day we ran a fox into
Moor Monkton village, and Sir Charles and " Eosebud "
soon produced it out of a tub of oatmeal in an old
woman's cottage, the latter never even having observed
the entrance of the fox into her kitchen. On another
17

258 The Cotirsc, the Camp, the Chase

occasion the pair tackled the fox behind all the hen-
coops that had been used for rearing young pheasants,
and had been stored away for the winter in a disused
outhouse at Thorpe Green. I remember yet another
occasion when we had temporarily thrown up in the
garden at Skelton close to a summer house, and, on
looking up, the fox was descried gravely looking down upon
us from a small ventilating hole just under the roof. It
had thrust its head and neck through the aperture, and
remained so still that it looked for all the world like a
stuffed fox hung against the wall, and indeed some of
the field did say that it was not a living fox, it remained
so long in the same position without moving.

There was one fox who beat us time after time at
the same place for three years, and during this period
he shifted his quarters to different places, and affected
coverts far removed from each other, but he invariably
arrived at the same field after good runs, and then
vanished. At last, however, by luck one or two hounds
traced him to his hiding-place, and he was killed. His
secret had been known to more than one person, but they
had honourably kept it, for he had become quite a
celebrity. His method had been to jump the wall into
Whixley Park, and go to a little drain that ran under
the wall and out into the road, of only a few feet
in length ; he did not dwell in this, but went straight
across the road into the middle of the field at the back
of Whixley Manor House. A wall encompasses the
grounds of the house, and the fox retraced his steps till
he got close to it, and then kept alongside until he
came to a flagged footpath between the Manor House
and the church-yard. Down this path he went, back

Hunting Sketches 259

into the road, and returned into the little drain that he
had just come through. The hounds used to run down
to this drain, jump the wall, which was a low one, and,
picking up the scent on the other side, carried it right
into the middle of the field behind the Manor House.
Foxes very often ran this line towards the Thorpe Green
coverts, and when the scent was lost the first cast was
naturally in their direction ; by the time that this had
failed the field were sure to have crowded behind, and
there being no place apparent where a fox could conceal
himself no one ever thought of it being anywhere but
forward, instead of it being snugly ensconced in the little
drain. Had this gone under the road, it would have no
doubt been tried to see if the fox was there, but as it only
ran under the wall of the park, and was in fact barely
big enough to conceal the fox, it escaped attention.

Another celebrity was a white fox that was one of
a litter at Thorpe Green, and was constantly seen 1865-
67. Some of the other cubs had more than a usual
amount of white, but this one, a short distance off, looked
perfectly snow-white. Sir Charles liked its being about,
and never would hunt it if he knew that we were in
pursuit of it, but on one occasion the hounds ran it hard
down the whole length of the Long Wood at Kirby Hall,
and it was not known at first that it was the white fox
they were after. On reaching the end of the covert in
the park the fox was headed, and went straight back
through the pack, but though there was an excellent scent
not a hound seemed to recognise that it was the fox, or
made an effort to catch it. The moment it had passed,
and the effluvia reached their nostrils, they started off
again in pursuit as eagerly as ever. They were speedily

2 6o The Course, the Camp, the Chase

stopped, however, and the fox allowed to escape. On
another occasion we were running a fox along the river
bank in the direction of Widdington Wood, when the
white fox was seen coming in the opposite direction, and
very puzzled were the field as to what it was. Some at
first thought it was a shepherd's dog, others a white
terrier, but it was soon recognised to be the famous
fox. His end was rather accidental. Towards the end
of a season's cub-hunting a fox was found at Lylands,
when there were only a few people out, and no one saw
it go away. There was a splendid scent, and the leading
couples were half a field away, racing at their very best
pace, as Sir Charles, Orvis, and two or three more, came
out of the wood and galloped their best to catch the
flying pack.

Over the Moor Farm they swept, across the Moor
Lane, past Grass Gill, with its haunted well, leaving High
Dunsforth to the right, and down to the river bank, from
which point Sir Charles and I were alone left to follow
the hounds, whom we had never yet actually reached,
though we were still in the same field with them.
Without the least check we raced over the grass pastures
alongside the river, the fox and pack passing under the
arches of Aldwark Bridge, while we galloped through the
yard of the Anchor Inn, which was fortunately close by.
Hawthorn Bank is just one short grass field beyond, and
into it went the pack with unabated pace, but threw up
before they had gone fifty yards into the wood. " Keep
still," exclaimed Sir Charles to me, " he's blown, and must
be lying down close to the hedge," and he blew his horn
to get the hounds back. They began to jump up among
some high docks, like a terrier after a rabbit in a turnip

i

Hunting Sketches 261

field, and in a minute something moved — there was a
rush, a scramble, and a worry. We had to run some
distance after jumping off our horses before we could get
at them, for the hedge was a very thick, high bullfinch.
Alas, when we got there, it was the white fox that had
been killed, and it was so torn to pieces there was no
chance of getting it stuffed, as Sir Charles had always
intended to do whenever it should be caught. Up to
that moment no one had the least idea what fox it was
we were running ; but it had come home to die, for the
whin covert where it was born was but a few fields
further on.

CHAPTER XXI.

Sir Charles Slingsby.

Fifteen years did Sir Charles hunt the pack, showing
ever-increasing sport, so that his fame penetrated to the
remotest hunt in Great Britain and Ireland, and strangers
came from afar to share in the doings of the York and
Ainsty, and to see for themselves whether the tales of
his prowess were really true. One and all went away
thoroughly pleased and satisfied, and returned again the
next season, bringing others with them, so that the fields
began to wax very large indeed, rivalling even those of
the shires.

The awful accident that happened from the upsetting
of the ferry-boat on the Eiver Ure fell like a thunderbolt
upon all hunting-fields, and was felt indeed to be almost
a national calamity.

We, who knew him so intimately, and loved him, were
almost prostrated with the shock ; while we had to mourn
also the loss of other gallant comrades, who were hurried
with him to an untimely grave, the tragic circumstances
of the case seeming to enhance still further their dreadful
fate.

We had been running very fast, although in a ring,
until we neared Copgrove, but on leaving Burton Leonard
village, the fox took to running fairly straight, and poor
Mr. Eobinson and I were the only persons with the hounds

Sir Charles Slings by 263

as they ran through the wood, just above Copgrove Beck.
We went through a gate, and were waiting to let the
hounds get clear of the wood, when I made the remark,
" Your curb-chain is loose ; turn his head, and I'll fasten
it for you." " Thanks," he said, " I'll do it myself," and
swung himself off his horse, and put it right. Together
we went on, fording the beck with the hounds, and then
galloped on in the direction of the weir. I was not
familiar with the fields where we were, but Eobinson
suddenly pulled his horse to the left, and at the same time
turned in his saddle and beckoned to me. I therefore
increased the pace of my mare, and on reaching him he
said, " There is a ferry-boat here. If we are lucky we
shall get over before any one else gets up."

When we reached the river, there was a very heavy
flood, which far overflowed the banks, but the fox we were
pursuing had twice before crossed the river, and escaped,
and there was in consequence an extra keenness to catch
him this time. The two ferrymen were working in a
garden some little distance on the further side, but on our
hailing them they hurried down, and made such progress
that at first we thought our hopes would be fulfilled, and
that we should get started for our journey across before
any one else appeared. The ferry-boat was a sort of
floating bridge, 30 feet long, with a railing 5 feet high at
the sides, and a small gate at each end, which could be
fastened at pleasure. It was worked by a windlass, the
revolving chain that passed over it being fastened at either
bank, but the great mistake had been made in having the
chain on the down-stream side of the boat. This had been
so fixed because it made it possible to work the boat in a
higher flood than could be done when it was on the upper

264 The Cottrse, the Camp, the Chase

side, for then the rush of water drifted the boat so far that
the chain formed a great bow, and the windlass could not
be worked on account of the strain. But this sad mistake
made such an accident possible, as speedily happened,
though it had never been thought of before.

The boat was quite two-thirds of the way across when,
to our chagrin, we saw the first horseman appearing in the
distance, quickly followed by others, and it was quite
evident that we should have plenty of company in the
boat. There was a small cutting leading to the water, and
I was standing by my horse on the left, and Mr. Eobinson
was sitting on his horse on the right. He had a habit of
never dismounting when crossing a ferry, as he used to say
that he could not swim, and must trust to his horse in case
of an accident. There was just room for three persons
and horses abreast in the cutting, so that the first person
who arrived came up on the right of Mr. Eobinson, and
some others closed up behind us. Just as the ferry-boat
was about to ground, Sir Charles and Orvis, the first whip,
came up on the right hand, and there was a shout, " Make
room for Sir Charles and Orvis ! Pull back those on the
left."

Very unwillingly I obeyed the order, and backed my
mare, for I feared that after all, instead of being over one of
the first, in the rush on to the boat I should be squeezed
out, and not get a place on it at all. As it happened, I
managed to get on one of the last, and away we started.
We were packed terribly close, and I began to feel rather
nervous lest some horse should begin to kick, thinking
that if they should do so, those of us at the rear end might
be pushed into the water, but the idea of an accident to
the boat itself never crossed my mind for one moment.

Sir Charles Sliiigsby 265

Just as we were starting, I saw Sir Charles at the far
end of the boat shutting the gate, but the one at our end
was left unclosed. He was talking to Mr. Eobinson, and
the moment after, while I was idly watching how close
the flood was bubbling up, almost to the top of the board
forming the side of the boat, I saw Sir Charles' horse,
" Saltfish," stretch his neck over the gate, as if to smell
the water, and the next instant he jumped over into the
river, dragging Sir Charles with him by the bridle.
Instantly there was a rush to that side, and a cry, "Oh
save Sir Charles ! " The boat lifted a few inches above
the water on the up-stream side, and the horses being
thrown off their equilibrium began to trample and slide
down to the other side. The boat recovered itself again,
and the idea flashing across me, " Here's a row ; I had
better be out of it," on the impulse of the moment I
shoved my mare violently back into the water, and
jumped out myself. The misfortune as it had first
appeared, of being on one of the last, instead of the
first, now proved a blessing, for not only was I able to
extricate myself easily from the crowd, but I was also
nearer by the length of the boat — 30 feet — to the bank
we had left.

The vessel swayed again twice, each time going higher
into the air. With the frantic struggles of the horses, as
they were tossed up and down, we soon saw that it was an
impossibility for the boat to right itself, and that a fearful
calamity was impending. At last it slowly turned over,
rearing right up into the air, and pouring men and horses
in one confused heap down into the water. It then
remained bottom upwards, with many of its late occupants
underneath, confined by the wooden side railings, which

266 The Coui'se, the Camp, the Chase

were now some four feet under water. Immediately on
reaching the land I had prepared to try and give assistance
by slipping off my coat and waistcoat, and with the help
of some one standing by, had taken oft' my top-boots.
With a fortunate thought, as I ran down and jumped into
the water, I undid the buttons of the breeches at the
knees, which just made all the difference in being able to
swim. Others who went in without doing so found that
the water got in at the waist, and being unable to escape
at the knees, they were so hampered that they were quite
powerless to move, and had to return as best they could.

Our chief idea was to save Sir Charles, if possible. He,
poor fellow, most unfortunately never tried to swim with
the stream and make for the bank from which we started,
where were any amount of people ready to help ; and no
doubt he would have been able to get sufficiently near to
it for assistance to have reached him. From the very first
his one idea seemed to be to get back to the boat, but he
was out in the full force of one of the highest floods that
had been known for many years, and he could not hold his
own against it. Others, who had also been upset into the
water, he saw safely getting out on to the top of the boat,
and this, no doubt, prevented his trying to act differently ;
but they were in a little backwater, caused by the boat
being held fast by the chain, and had no stream to contend
against. The set of the current, too, was towards the other
shore, so that when I was swimming across to try to get
to his help, I found that he was being carried further away
as well as down-stream. Before I could reach him he
was completely exhausted. His horse " Saltfish " came
swimming down the stream,- close to him, and he gathered
himself together for one last effort. As the horse passed

Sh' Charles Slingsby 267

him he snatched at the mane, and he had evidently-
remembered that " Saltfish's " mane was always on the
near side, instead of as usually worn, for I noticed his
hand went right to the top of the horse's crest, but he
failed to get hold. In slipping down the neck the hand
caught the rein, which caused " Saltfish " to throw up his
head and lose his balance, when they both disappeared
under the water, Sir Charles never to be seen again alive.
The horse, however, reappeared again a little further on,
and, reaching the opposite bank, managed to get out safely.
Of the eleven horses that embarked, I think I am right in
saying that only that horse and mine escaped being
drowned.

Whilst swimming across I suddenly saw a hunting cap
emerge a short distance below me, followed by a head and
shoulders, and I recognised Mr. Ptobinson. To my
astonishment he continued to rise still further out of
the water, and I began to swim on my side to be able to
see what was the reason. After his whole body had
emerged I saw a horse's head appear, and then it became
evident that he was still sitting on his horse just as in the
boat. This was most remarkable, for the place where they
came to the surface was a very long way below where the
capsize took place. He appeared perfectly calm and cool,
shook himself, and looked first at one bank and then at the
other. Unfortunately his horse was heading straight down
the stream for the weir, which was not very far below,
and whether he touched the bridle or not, or whether the
horse was so beaten by his long submersion that he could
not swim, I do not know. Almost immediately, however,
the horse sank. Mr. Eobinson was left a moment or two
on the surface before he too disappeared, and the horse

268 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

was swept over the weir, and his body recovered in the
pool below.

There was a great difficulty in swimming, owing to the
intense coldness of the water, the flood being caused by
the melting of the snow which was just taking place.
Fortunately those on the bank had their wits about them,
and knotted bridles, whips, and stirrup-leathers together,
and made ropes of them, or there might have been even
more disasters than there actually were.

If it had not been for the presence of mind of Mr.
Clare Vyner hardly one would have escaped of those in
the forepart of the boat. The accident occurring at his
own place to his own ferry-boat, was to a certain degree
advantageous. The construction being familiar, as soon as
he found himself in the water, he clutched hold of the
railings, and walking up them like a ladder, and getting on
to the bottom of the boat, he was able to rescue those who
were within reach. In this way he was able to save Sir
George Wombwell, who, fortunately for himself, came up'
on the upstream side of the boat, and the force of the
current kept him against it until he was noticed by Mr.
Vyner, and safely extricated from his perilous position.
His fortunate rescue from drowning was quite on a par
with his escape after the famous charge of the Light
Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimea. Captain
Key of Fulford was fortunate enough to get hold of the
end of the chain, and by its help reached the shore in
safety. Mr. K. C. Vyner and Mr. William Ingilby, of
Eipley Castle, endeavoured, and very nearly succeeded, in
saving Mr. Edward Lloyd, of Lingcroft Lodge. The latter
was a good swimmer on ordinary occasions, but seeing he
was in great difficulties the two gentlemen mentioned

Sir Charles Slingsby 269

plunged into the water and swam to his help. Placing a
hand on each of their shoulders, and encouraging him to
hold out, they had got close to the shore, when suddenly
his hands relaxed their grasp, and he was gone before they
had time to realise that their comrade had been snatched
away when almost in safety. Poor Orvis, the kennel
huntsman, was the only one who floated down the stream,
and he, no doubt, succumbed to some injury done by the
struggling horses, and his chest was therefore still inflated
with air. Noticing him being carried down by the current,'
I ran down the bank and swam across to the island,
formed by the lock cut, in hopes of being able to save him,
but he suddenly sank, and as he had never shown any
movement there is no doubt but that he was already dead.
After returning to Copgrove, where I was staying at the
time, to change my clothes, I returned to assist in the
search for the bodies, and it was noteworthy that each one
was found within a very few yards of where I had last
seen them when alive.

A very curious circumstance was that my father, the
Chairman of the North-Eastern Eailway Company, was
holding a Board meeting at Newcastle. The time of the
disaster, as shown by the watches which had stopped, was
about 2.5 P.M. At 2.30 p.m. a telegram was handed to
him in the Board Eoom, giving an account of the disaster,
and with a perfectly accurate list of all who were drowned.
The stationmaster at Boroughbridge telegraphed the infor-
mation. He did not know the person who informed him
about it, but the latter must have been very quick, after
seeing the disaster, to have galloped the three miles or so
that intervened between the railway station and the scene
of the accident, in the short time that had elapsed.

270 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

By the courtesy of the editor of the Field newspaper I <fl
am enabled to give the account that appeared in that
journal in its issue of 13th February 1869,

" The Fearful Accident with the York and Ainsty.

" It was a beautiful morning on Thursday, Feb. 4, when
the York and Ainsty met at Stainley House. We chopped
the first fox in Cayton Gill, but found again in Monckton
Whin at 12.40. There was a splendid scent, but the fox
twisted about a good deal, and, though the pace was tre-
mendous, yet, after an hour's running, the fox crossed the
river at Newby, just in front of the hounds, and only about
two miles and a half from where he was found.

" The river was very high from the floods, and a very
strong stream was running, in consequence of which the
fox was carried over Newby Weir, and the whole of the
hounds also ; but they all got out safely, and took up the
scent immediately on the opposite side. There is a ford
just below, with posts marked with different distances up
to the height of five feet, so as to show when the river is
f ordable ; but on that day the river was so high that not
even the posts were visible. We were all, therefore,
obliged to make for the ferry.

" The ferry-boat was overloaded, and no sooner did it
get into the stream than the water began to rush in over
the sides. Sir Charles Slingsby's horse, " Old Saltfish "
(whom he bought the first year he took the hounds, fifteen
years ago), finding there was something wrong, jumped
into the water. Sir Charles held on to the reins, to
induce him to swim alongside ; but, not calculating suf-
ficiently the force of the stream and the weight of the
horse, he was overbalanced and fell in. (I have seen

Sir Charles Slingsby 271

several papers state that there was then a rush made to
one side ; but the horses were so closely packed on board,
like bullocks in a bullock truck, that they could not have
moved from any cause.) The boat then swayed once or
twice, and finally turned completely over, for several
seconds leaving nothing to the view but the bottom of the
boat.

" It seemed impossible that any should be saved, but,
by degrees, heads began to appear, and Mr. Clare Vyner,
having scrambled on to the upturned boat, gallantly
assisted all he could reach to gain the same haven. The
boat, being still held by the chain, acted as a breakwater,
and, therefore, all those who came up near the boat had no
stream to contend against. Unfortunately, Sir Charles
Slingsby was some way down the stream, in the full force
of the current. He struggled gamely to reach the boat,
but it was hopeless. If he had only turned and swam
with the stream, in all human probability he would have
been saved ; for when he was finally exhausted he sank
(still struggling to reach the boat) close to the north shore,
whither he had been carried by the stream, but where,
unfortunately, there was no one to help. " Old Saltfish "
followed his master like a dog to the very end, and at last
swam past him, unfortunately with the near side next to
Sir Charles, who with his last effort tried to grasp the
horse's neck ; but the mane being on the opposite side, he
only succeeded in grasping the bridle. Both immediately
sank — Sir Charles never to be seen again alive ; but the
old horse rose again to the surface, and then swam ashore.

" Mr. Eobinson — who was always extremely nervous in
crossing ferries, as he was unable to swim and always
entertained a horror of being drowned — according to his

272 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

usual custom, never got off his horse on entering the boat,
and when it upset he rose several yards down-stream, still
sitting on his horse. He looked calmly round, as if to
choose the best landing-place, when his horse suddenly
sank, either from being exhausted before he came to the
top, or from the reins being touched to guide him ashore.
After two fearful shrieks Mr. Eobinson went down.

" Captain Key, being the last on board, succeeded in
jumping clear of the boat as it turned over, and, for-
tunately, being carried against the chain, was able, by
making use of it, to reach the shore in safety. Sir George
Wombwell, who may consider this as the most fortunate of
his many narrow escapes from death, came to the surface
on the up-stream side of the boat, against which he was
carried, and was promptly rescued by Mr. Clare Vyner,
though he himself was too far gone to make the slightest
effort to save himself, and was even unaware by what
means he was saved.

" In the meantime those on shore had promptly done
all in their power. Whips were knotted together ; but as
the river was at least eighty yards from bank to bank, and
those in the water were more than half-way across, every
endeavour to cast them within reach failed. Every pole
that could be found was thrown, but to no purpose. Four
strong swimmers tried their best in vain — one, Mr. Preston
of Moreby, had not waited to take off his boots, and it was
with difficulty he was rescued by those on shore. Mr.
Ingilby, of Eipley Castle, and Captain Vyner, of Linton
Spring, succeeded in reaching Mr. Lloyd, who was doing
his best to gain the south shore. They had brought him
almost in reach of those on the bank when he suddenly
sank, and they, exhausted by the long run, the extreme

Sir C /tallies Slingsby 273

coldness of the water, and the force of the current, were
unable to make another effort to recover him. They were
obliged to receive assistance from the shore to save them-
selves.

" Mr. Eichard Thompson, of Kirby, swam off to the help
of Sir Charles ; but the latter being carried further away
from him by the current, Mr. Thompson was obliged to give
up all hope of reaching him, and was himself helped out
by getting hold of two whips being tied together, one end
being thrown to him from the bank. As soon as he was a
little recovered, he ran down the bank and swam across a
canal to an island, where the river makes a bend, in hopes
that the body of Orvis, the huntsman, which was being
carried down by the current, might be washed within reach.
Unfortunately, Orvis was carried to the other shore, and
the weir being only fifty yards below he could make no
further effort. The two gardeners were never seen alive
after the boat was upset.

" Thus Yorkshire has lost, by this unprecedented
catastrophe. Sir Charles Slingsby, perhaps the best gentle-
man huntsman that has ever lived — one whose genial
manners and kind disposition endeared him to all who
had the good fortune to come in contact with him ;
Mr. Eobinson, who was not only the finest horseman and
best rider to hounds I have ever known, but the least
jealous person that ever followed hounds over a country ;
Mr. Lloyd, the best man of his weight (he rode fully 1 6 st.)
that ever crossed this deep plough — one whom no fence
was too strong for ; and lastly, poor old Orvis, the cheeriest
of huntsmen and the most civil of servants. Four better-
known men, and whose loss would be more deeply mourned
for, could not be found anywhere, Requicscant in pace !

2 74 ^^^^ Course, the Camp, the Chase

The days of the York are numbered for the present —
never, I am afraid, again to equal the last few years."

The boat was far over-weighted with men and horses,
and it is doubtful, even if the river had been at its ordinary
level, if the freight would have been safely conveyed across.
In the then condition of the river it was madness to have
essayed it, but in the excitement of the run all who could
get a footing crowded on board. The names of those who
embarked are as follows, the asterisks showing those who
were drowned : —

Captain Key.

* Mr. George Lloyd.
Captain Molyneux, E.N.
Major Mussenden.

* William Orvis, Kennel Huntsman.
'* Mr. James Eobinson.

* Sir C. Slingsby, Bart., M.F.H.
Mr. Eichard Thompson.

Mr. Clare Vyner.

Mr. White.

Sir G. Wombwell, Bart.

* Christopher Warriner, \

* James Warriner, J

Six passengers out of thirteen were thus drowned, and
nine out of eleven horses, the two that were saved being Sir
Charles Slingsby's " Saltfish," and Mr. Thompson's " Wood-
pigeon."

If only Sir Charles had been spared for some seasons
longer, there is no gauging the pitch of perfection to
which he might have brought his pack. It was only the
previous season that he had swept the board at the great

Sir Charles Slingsby 275

hound show, held at Wetherby, with the famous litter that
included

" Nestor," . 1st Prize, Dog-hounds.

" Nosegay," . 1st Prize, Bitches.

" Novelty," . 2nd Prize, do.

and also another brother which, though an excellent hound,
was not thought quite good enough by the judges to receive a
prize. The judges on this occasion were Lord Galway,
the Master of The Grove ; Mr. Scrattan from Essex ; Lord
Herries ; and Mr, John Parrington. The latter was the
brother of the Secretary, the renowned Mr. T. Parrington,
so well known as a famous judge of hounds, and afterwards
the Master of the Sinnington Pack, one of the oldest in
Yorkshire, and who was also at one time Master of the
Hurworth. The famous litter mentioned above were by
Lord Yarborough's " Nelson," out of the York and Ainsty
" Comedy," by Comus. This latter hound was obtained for
a season by Sir Charles, and besides being very low-scented,
was very good-looking also, and true made. His one
slight drawback was a very unmusical voice, very deep
and hoarse, with a long drawn-out note, scarcely like a
foxhound at all, but his stock did not inherit this
peculiarity.

It was remarkable what influence Sir Charles possessed
with the large fields that usually came out, and even with
all the hard-riding strangers from afar it was very seldom
that he ever had occasion to utter a word of remonstrance.
A quiet look from him seemed to curb the most impetuous.
Even if he had occasion to speak his admonition was
always courteous. " Here, sir, please take my horn," he
said on one occasion, at the same time drawing it from its

276 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

case, riding up to the offender and holding it out to him,
" We cannot both hunt the hounds." No amount of l»ad
language could have caused the effect that that simple
action and those few words had in abashing the culprit.
On another occasion, a hard rider jumped right into the
middle of the pack, and tumbled off as they were casting
themselves on the farther side of a hedge, on a bad scenting
day. Sir Charles hastened up, and we all exjDected to hear
something rather forcible issue from his lips, but all he said
after checking his horse and looking over the fence at the

offender was, " I'm very glad of it." The result was

that everyone did their best to avoid meriting displeasure,
and the field was one of the best ordered ones in the
kingdom.

The secret of it was that he was such a thorough
gentleman and inborn sportsman. All sports came alike
to him, and he excelled in everything. Shooting, fishing,
even rat hunting with his terriers, or whatever the pastime
of the moment might be, he thoroughly understood the
nature of the pursuit, and had the keenest insight into the
habits of the quarry he was after. He once captured 120
blackbirds with his sparrowhawk during a ten days' frost,
and he threw himself into the sport of the moment with
all the zest that he did when fox-hunting. His very wish
was law in the country he ruled over, and he was mourned
equally in the mansion of the squire and in the cottage of
the peasant.

CHAPTER XXII.

With the York Packs.

It was a very curious circumstance that the four followers
of the hunt who were drowned were the only ones who
habitually wore hunting caps. Before the great Marquis
of Waterford was killed when hunting in 1859, hunting
caps were the ordinary head-gear in the hunting field.
Because he happened to be wearing a cap at the time of
his death, the unreasoning dictates of fashion decreed that
the ridiculous tall hat should henceforth be worn, perhaps
the most unsuitable head-dress that could possibly be
devised for the purpose. Always in the way, getting its
owner into trouble with boughs and branches, in hedges
and coverts, most uncomfortable in a wind, it further
generally falsifies its raison d'etre by tumbling off the
wearer's head when he gets a fall, though the only
supposed good that it possesses is to break the concussion.
What does a steeplechase jockey choose for his head
covering ? He does not allow sentiment to stand in the
way, while certainly most falls out hunting are nothing
compared to a roll over when steeplechasing. Instead of
a tall hat he puts on a thin silk cap, and it is the rarest
thing to hear of a jockey breaking his neck. He breaks
almost every other bone that he possesses, but his neck
almost always escapes scatheless. As a general rule, when
in doubt as to what tackle is the most suitable for any

278 The Co2trse, the Camp, the Chase

pursuit, the best way is to " Follow the money." Where
money is to be won, the sharpest wits and the keenest
intelligences are invariably set to work to find out what
will give the best aid in winning it. A jockey going to
ride over the Liverpool steeplechase fences does not
generally put a powerful curb bit into his horse's mouth,
though there are plenty of high, strong fences to be ridden
over on a very tired horse ; so high and so strong are they
that few men in an ordinary hunting field would think of
riding even at a single one. No, he chooses a plain, thick,
smooth snaffle, with a nice long martingale and noseband.
The hunting rider is fond of laying down the law that you
must have a curb bit to collect a horse at his fences, and
that martingales are dangerous. Again, I say, " Follow the
money " if you wish to have what is really the most
suitable for crossing a country. A curb bit, unless
accompanied by more perfect hands and a firmer seat than
most riders possess, is very apt to make a horse jump
short, and many a fall is the inevitable result that might
have been avoided if an easier bit had been used.

Then, again, just turn to all the fads about different
gauges of guns in shooting. This man recommends a 20-
bore, that a 2 8 -bore, and again a third a 10 -bore. What
wins the pigeon matches at Monte Carlo or the Gun
Club? Invariably a 12 -bore. So again I repeat,
" Follow the money," and it will be found a very safe
guide when in doubt.

Poor Mr. Kobinson was undoubtedly one of the very
finest riders that ever rode to hounds, and he was gener-
ally regarded as the successor of the Eev. J, Bower, who
again had succeeded Lord Jersey in the role of " the finest
rider of the day." He had undaunted nerve, most

With the York Packs 279

beautiful hands, with an extremely quick eye for a country,
and he knew every trick of the game.

In his quiet way he would often point out to a
beginner how a particular fence should be ridden at, and
then by way of pointing the moral, give a practical lesson
by riding over it himself. A very useful maxim of his
was that when the country is very blind, and the ditch
is on the taking-off side, the wisest plan is, if possible, to
pick a place where the ditch is uncovered, so that the
horse can see what he is doing. How many riders do the
reverse of this, and by way of calming their own nervous-
ness, ride at the most hidden part of the ditch ! Further,
he used to say, that if a hidden ditch is suspected, ride at
a high part of the fence, and put the pace on. Your
horse is then obliged to stand further away when he
takes off, and does not gallop into the ditch. But nerves
require to be good, to pick out a big place instead of a
much smaller one equally available ! He had a most
excellent stud of horses that carried him apparently so
smoothly, that few suspected what bad-tempered brutes
many of them were until they bought them at the
executor's sale. They were mostly thoroughbred, many of
them being picked up at the Newmarket Sales when three
or four years old in the autumn. One of his best,
though an extremely bad-tempered horse, was " Brunow,"
who had been second in the Grand Prix. A rather
curious circumstance happened one day with the Bram-
ham Moor. There was a wide ditch, generally known
as the Marston Drain, which we had to cross when
running from Hutton Thorns to Wilstrop, a very favourite
line in those days. There was then no hunting bridge
over it, and we invariably used to creep halfway down

28o The Course, the Camp, the Chase

its steep sides, then jump the water at the bottom,
and scramble up the other side. It had often been dis-
cussed whether this could not be flown, and after a good
inspection of it I marked a place in my own mind where
it seemed possible to do so. The next time that we
found at Hutton Thorns, and ran in that direction, I
galloped straight for this place, being mounted on a mag-
nificent four -year -old, " Eedbourne," who had run the
previous year in " Hermit's " Derby. He was out of
" Eepentance," who was also dam of " Wolesley," who run
a dead heat with " Lozenge " for the Cambridgeshire ; and
of " Eemorse," who subsequently ran third for the Derby,
for Lord Falmouth, as the " Macaroni-Eepentance " colt,

" Eedbourne " was a beautiful jumper and a very bold
horse, and I knew he would do his best. As I came
slanting down from the right hand, Eobinson appeared
from the left, also making for the identical same spot, and
I soon saw he was also going to have a try at it. He
was riding a very fine chestnut that he had bought at
Newmarket the autumn before, and as he was about fifty
yards ahead of me when we were straightened for the
jump, he had the first attempt at it. His horse just got
over, and the moment after " Eedbourne " was safely over
also, and then for the first time, turning his head, Eobin-
son found he was not alone. He told me that he also
had been to look for a place where he might fly it, and
had chosen the same place as I had done, but he had
never observed that I was also making for it. It was
rather a quaint coincidence that we should have both had
the same impulse on the same day, unknown to each other,
for I have never heard of it being jumped at the same
place, either before or since.

With the York Packs 281

At the present time, when such great interest has
been renewed in the doings and writings of the Bronte
family, it may be interesting to note that Mr. Eobinson
was the pupil of Bramwell Bronte in 1845, when the
latter was the tutor at Thorpe Green, where his sister
Anne was also governess. Thorpe Green was in ancient
times the halfway house of the Abbots of Fountains,
between Eipon and York, and was also their hunting box.
The original house — still inhabited — is in statu quo, with
the extremely ornamental lead patterns in the glass
windows, and the picturesque quaint gables and chimneys
that carry one back to the mediaeval times. In the
courtyard close by is still the ancient " piscarium " for
holding the fish required for the Abbot's dinner. In the
Carta Fountainis is an ancient lease, of which the follow-
ing is an extract. It was granted by the Abbot of
Fountains to Francis and Peter Mann, of the Manor of
Thorpe Underwoods, on October 29 th, in the sixteenth
year of the reign of King Henry VIII. : —

"... Further, it is agreed that the said Francis Mann,
and Peter Mann, his son, or one of them, shall take and deliver
to the said Abbot and convent, their successors or deputies,
such pidgeons as shall fortune hereafter to be taken at
every flight within the said Manor and Lordship of Thorpe
Underwood. Further, it is agreed that the said Francis
Mann, and Peter Mann, his son, and either of them shall
oversee, and keep as well such wild boares, deere, heron-
sowes, howle-ordes, and peasantes, partridges, as other
fowles and beastes of warranty, breeding within the said
Manor and Lordship, to the use and profit of the said
Abbot and convent and their successors, so that the said
Francis Mann, and Peter Mann, his son, shall not suffer

282 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

any destruction of the said fowles or beastes of warranty to
be done by any person or persons . . .

" Also, it is agreed that the said Francis Mann, and
Peter Mann, his son, shall find beddings and other housel-
ment of household as shall be necessary for the said Abbot
and Convent, and other his brethren and servants coming
with him, to the said Manor of Thorpe, at such times as
the said Abbot, his brethren, and servants shall tarry and
lodge there for their solace and benefit, so that it be not
continually. . . ."

Abbot John de Eipon died here in 1434 while sojourn-
ing in the Manor House.

The descendants of " Francis and Peter Mann, his son,"
continued to live here until the early years of the present
century. There is rather a romantic story of the way it
became the property of the Eobinson family. Late one
winter's night a chaise drew up to the door of Thorpe
Green, and a belated traveller craved lodging for the night.
She was a pretty young widow, with a little son, whose
husband had died, leaving her with very little to live upon.
She stated that she was on her way to stay with her
husband's cousin, Mrs. Eobinson, of Studley Park, the
ancestress of the present Marquis of Eipon ; but that, as
darkness had come on, she felt afraid to proceed further
that night ; and her husband having told her to seek the
aid of his old friend, Mr. Mann Horsefield, if in need of
help, she had now done so, on finding herself in his neigh-
bourhood. The visitor ingratiated herself so much that
she was begged to return after her visit to Studley, and
accordingly did so, the sequel of the story being that the
old gentleman left all his estate to her son, the grandfather
of Mr. Eobinson. The latter eventually sold it to my

With the York Packs 283

father, as it joined on to the Kirby Hall property, which
had also originally belonged to Fountains Abbey.

Amongst the maxims of Sir Charles Slingsby was one,
in contrast to the dictum of a blown fox lying down as
soon as he could, viz., that a fox who had never been
pushed fast at any time in the run, even though he might
be tired, never lay down until he had got well inside a
covert, and in many cases, if the covert was small, went
straight through it. In a long, slow run, on coming to a
small plantation, he would often gallop round to the far-
side with the hounds, so as to pick up the line, without
wasting time in working it out through the wood. If the
fox was still inside no harm was done, but if he had gone
through, many valuable minutes were often saved. He
would also say that it was folly to stop a single hound in
the middle of a run that had recovered the scent when a
check had occurred, though the body of the pack might be
in the next field or further. On the contrary, let him
alone to make the most of it, taking care to keep him in
view, for the hounds being altogether and in the open, they
are very quickly got forward without danger of any being
left behind. They pick the scent up, too, so quickly under
such conditions, for they put their noses down on reaching
their comrade, knowing that he is hunting on the line. It
is quite a different thing when one or two hounds get away
after a fox from a covert. It takes time for the others to
get out, even if they are aware that the fox is away, though
even then the stopping the leading hounds may be carried
to an extreme ; and if there are enough to carry on the run
by themselves, much valuable time is lost if they are
whipped off" until the others join them. Stephen Goodall,
who hunted the Bramham Moor and the Vale of White

284 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Horse, perhaps carried this to an extreme, as so long as he
could see the fox himself, or had a hound or two that could
own the line, he would gallop on, blowing his horn con-
tinuously and loudly till he had got the pack together.
Still he showed marvellous sport, killed an immense number
of foxes after rattling gallops, and his hounds never needed
a Whip. They used to fly from all parts of a wood the
moment they heard his horn. Though his method was
very unscientific, it was an extremely killing one, and was
certainly not criticised by the hard-riding division. The
Bramham Moor are fortunate in having had for some years
one of the finest huntsmen of the day in Tom Smith. It
is a very cunning fox that is able to escape him on a good
scenting day, and he shows extremely good sport under the
adverse conditions of a very large field, whenever they meet
within easy reach of Leeds and Harrogate.

York is an excellent hunting centre, for besides its own
proper pack — the York and Ainsty — the Bramham Moor
and Lord Middleton's both meet once a week within easy
reach of the city. The latter pack also rejoice in a liunts-
man, who well deserves the fame that he has acquired.
To kill, as he has done, considerably over eighty brace of
foxes in a season, argues the highest talent in the
" managing director " of the pack. How quick he is
in reading signs the following anecdote may possibly show: —
A year or two ago several foxes were picked up that were
being poisoned, and as everyone in the neighbourhood was
known to be friendly to tliem. Will Grant was completely
puzzled as to the author of their destruction. One morning,
when exercising the pack, he suddenly got a clue. After
kennelling the hounds he rode over to the farmer and told
him that at last he had found out who had laid the poison.

With the York Packs 285

and on being interrogated who it was, he informed him
that it was himself. The farmer indignantly denied the
charge, when Grant stopped his utterances, and proceeded
to explain how he had done it. It appeared that as the
huntsman was riding along, some pigeon's feathers caught
his eye in a wheat field, and on further search a partly
eaten pigeon was discovered, in whose crop was some new
sown wheat. This had been steeped in a poisonous pre-
paration, and thus the farmer had unwittingly first poisoned
the pigeon, and the fox having found the dead bird, had
also succumbed after devouring a portion of it.

The York and Ainsty are fortunate in having a very
keen master in Mr. Lycett Green, who spares neither time,
trouble, nor expense in providing sport and in keeping
the pack to a very high pitch of perfection. He is an
excellent horseman, and always with his hounds. A deep
debt of gratitude is also owing to his brother, Mr. Frank
Green, who has elaborated a most excellent scheme for
dealing with wire, that foe to fox-hunting, and which under
his capable management works most harmoniously.

Barbed wire is a most unnecessary and growing
evil, and threatens to stop hunting altogether in some
countries unless prompt measures are taken to hold it in
subjection.

During the lengthy stay of the 10 th Hussars at York,
the meets of the various packs were constantly graced by
the presence of H.E.H. the Duke of Clarence, who was
very fond of hunting, as well as of anything in the way of
sport. He had a long easy seat on a horse, and went well
to hounds, while he was so courteous to everyone and so
thoughtful for others, that he won the hearts of all who
came in contact with him. When the mournful news

286 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

came that he had been so early snatched away, it was
genuine sorrow at the loss of a friend and comrade as well
as of a Eoyal Prince, that clouded the homes of his many
Yorkshire friends. There was nothing he enjoyed more
than entering into the sport of the moment, as a partaker
of it, without the trammels of Court etiquette, and feeling
himself free to do as the spirit moved him. It was
amusingly brought home to me one day, towards the end
of one hunting season, when, as we were going to draw a
covert in the afternoon, I spied a plover's nest with eggs
close by. Jumping off the horse, and wrapping each egg
in moss, I deposited them one by one in my breast-pocket,
and had hardly clambered back into the saddle with great
care than I heard my name called. Turning my head to
see who it was, I was startled by the feint of a blow of a
closed fist, directed at the eggs where they bulged my
hunting-coat out, and a hearty laugh broke on my ear as
the Prince enjoyed the scare he had given me. The eggs,
however, got safely home from all dangers, even surviving
jumping some fences.

A little steeplechase course at my residence often
attracted the "10th " to come and have a ride over it, and
the Duke was a frequent visitor to watch the performance.
He loved to see the horses jump, and to chaff the riders.
Those few fences were good enough to school a considerable
number of winners, and when the Regimental and Hunt
Steeplechases took place, the horses that were trained at
Nunthorpe Court took more than their share of prizes.
Lord William Bentinck and Captain Hughes Onslow were
especially successful, and were both much above the " form "
of ordinary amateurs. The latter indeed is now one of the
very best of our soldier riders, and has twice ridden the

With the York Packs 287

winner of that coveted prize, the Grand Military Gold
Cup.

The Duke of Clarence once showed remarkable " form "
when shooting the coverts at Kirby Hall. He was placed
well out in the park to take the pheasants as they were
crossing from one wood to another, and they came both
high and fast. The Duke screened himself behind some
cut wood, which answered the purpose of a " butt," so that
the pheasants did not notice him and came straight
without swerving. He shot twenty-eight, nearly all being
hit well forward and killed instantly. He was very
pleased, and had every reason to be so, for the birds were
all good ones, and it was a fine exhibition of skill.

The happy years of his stay in York will ever be
held there in mournful remembrance, alike by those who
had the privilege of his acquaintance, and by others who
revered him as a most courteous Prince.

The greatest run that occurred with the York and
Ainsty during the Mastership of Sir Charles Slingsby
was always stated by him to have been one from Red
House, when the hounds ran clean away from the field,
and pulled their fox down in the park at Nun Appleton.
The distance in a straight line on the map is almost
thirteen miles. No one who started with the pack saw
the finish, though others did who joined in during the
run. I do not believe that this grand run has been
equalled since. Eed House has frequently sent forth good
stout foxes, and one gave a very fine run from here, and
was killed after only one check, at the outskirts of
Wetherby in 1867. The fox ran through Skip Bridge
Whin, but after that never touched another covert.
Leaving Wilstrop Wood to the right, and the Ingman-

2 88 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

thorpe Coverts to the left, he went straight up to the
high road opposite to Kirk Deighton, and then turned
towards Wetherby, and was killed.

Sir Charles never rode anything but extremely well-
bred horses, " Welham," on whom he was painted in a
posthumous picture of the pack, by his brother-in-law,
Captain T. Slingsby, was a thorough-bred horse. The
beautiful " Eosamond," who made over 400 guineas at
the sale of the stud, was also clean-bred ; while on " Egg
Sauce " Sir Charles won the Hunt Cup on the flat at
Thirsk Eaces. He bought two horses on the Ash-
Wednesday of the first season that he took the hounds,
and appropriately named one " Egg Sauce " and the other
" Saltfish," The latter horse carried him very nearly
fifteen seasons, yet he scarcely looked up to his rider's
weight. He was a very lengthy, well-bred-looking
chestnut, but was a wind-sucker all his life, and never
carried an ounce of flesh on his bones. He was an extra-
ordinary performer over a country, however, a very hard
horse, and somehow Sir Charles generally happened to be
riding him whenever an exceptional run occurred. There
was another remarkably good horse, too, in the stud, " Daddy
Longlegs," so good, in fact, that the late Mr. Clare Vyner —
who bought him at the sale of the stud — had him prepared
for the Liverpool Grand National, and thought he had a
chance of winning it. On one occasion I was staying at
Newby for a meet of the Bedale Hounds, the other guests
being the late Mr. " Peter " Wilkinson and the late Mr.
John Booth, then the Master of the pack. The evening
before hunting, the question cropped up as to whether
horses could beat hounds for actual speed over a few
furlonos, Wilkinson and I, both well used to riding

With the York Packs 289

races, each were of opinion that horses were much the
fastest, while Mr. Vyner and Mr. Booth were of the
contrary opinion, although both of them owned racehorses.
It was settled that if we had a good chance the next day
we were any of us to avail ourselves of it, and as the
Duck Pond in the park invariably held a fox, and was
the first draw, it was thought to be a likely place for a
trial, for there was a long stretch of excellent flat gallop-
ping ground before the confines of the park were reached.
I was riding " Bellringer," who afterwards won the Grand
National Hunters' Eace for Mr. Vyner ; he himself was
on " Daddy Longiegs " ; " Peter " Wilkinson rode Mr.
Vyner's " Dagolino," and Mr. Booth was on one of his
own good racing hunters. When the hounds crossed over
to the island, we all drew up, where there was a little
isthmus of dry land, and awaited the result. A fox was
speedily on foot, and crossed the narrow neck of land,
with the hounds in close pursuit in full view. " Wait
a bit," exclaimed Mr. Vyner, " give them a fair start,"
and we accordingly let them get some fifty yards away
before he gave the word " Go," the fox being at that
moment some thirty yards in front of the pack. " Hold
hard, gentlemen," roared the huntsman ; " Hold hard ! "
and then to his utter astonishment he saw his own M.F.H.
riding madly on to the very top of the hounds — as it
appeared to him. We had a grand scurry, but the result
was as we had anticipated, for we not only flew past the
pack, but past the fox also, and reached the park boundary
some way ahead of the latter, who had moreover gained
a little on the hounds as they raced over the turf.
On another occasion, however, the fox, or rather foxes,
did not have the best of it in a trial of speed with the
19

290 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

Bedale Pack. An extraordinary fast puppy came in from
"walk," and one day, when drawing some heath, a fox
jumped up in full view. " Singer " at once shot out
from the rest of the pack, caught the fox up, turned
him, and killed him. Very shortly after, another fox
was roused, but this time it was near a fence, and when
the puppy singled himself out again in pursuit, it was
thought that he must lose the fox as soon as it had
slipped through the ragged high hedge that skirted
Huttou Moor. This was not the case, however, and
though the fox had a long start, the young hound viewed
him again in the large grass field that he was crossing,
raced after him, caught him, and killed him. Two foxes
in less than twenty minutes was a pretty good beginning,
but was by no means the end of the puppy's perform-
ances. Later in the day we had about an hour's run,
when in crossing a park the fox was viewed, and again
" Singer " raced him down, and killed him. Being so
much faster than the rest of the pack, he was condemned
to be drafted, but the fiat was cancelled, and he continued
for some time to do good work for the Bedale. If ever
he caught sight of a fox, he was almost sure to overtake
it, and then he had the rather uncommon courage to
attack it single-handed, I believe he was of Brocklesby
descent. In the early " sixties " the York and Ainsty
had the misfortune to lose by far the larger proportion
of their puppies when still unweaned. On arriving there
one very hot day, poor Orvis received me in a state of
despair, for several litters were attacked by jaundice, which
proved fatal in every case. The weather was extremely
hot, and soon after breakfast Orvis had moved all the
little huts under the shade of a clump of trees, which

Wifk the York Packs 291

then stood in the paddock at the kennels. There had
been an extremely heavy dew, which had not yet
evaporated under the trees, and in consequence this fatal
disease seized upon the puppies that had been placed there
for the sake of shelter from the intense heat.

There was a singular fatality that dogged the York and
Ainsty after the great accident. William Powter, the
second Whip, who was not on board the ferry-boat at the
time of the disaster, met with a fatal accident during the
following cub-hunting season. I had just been in con-
versation with him, and showing him a horse that I was
riding, a four-year-old called " Kettleholder," who had been
heavily backed for the Hunt Cup at Ascot earlier in the
summer, and for the Cambridgeshire the year previous ; a
horse that was beautifully bred, being by " Kettledrum,"
winner of the Derby, out of the flying " Ellermire," the
dam of " Elland," the winner of the Ascot Vase. After
looking at him Bill jumped a fence, and cantered on round
the end of the covert, and was never seen again alive. He
was found a little later on the far-side of a fence, lying
with a broken neck, though what had happened nobody
could tell, as no one had seen him at the time.

Sir George Wombwell became the new Master of the
York and Ainsty, with Peter Collinson as his Huntsman,
and they again were succeeded by the Hon. Egremont
Lascelles and Squires. Alas ! another fatal accident hap-
pened, the huntsman's horse kneeing a low stile near
Marton Village, and breaking his rider's neck in the fall.

Such disasters, following so quickly one after the other,
threw such a chill over the Hunt that it was years before
the country seemed to emerge from the cloud that over-
shadowed it.

292 The Course, the Cavip, the Chase

With regard to the relative speed of horses, hounds,
and foxes, a further illustration was afiforded by the late
Mr. H. S. Thompson undertaking, for a bet, to catch a fox
by himself, by riding it down. The trial took place many
years ago on the Wolds, when a fox being found, Mr.
Thompson rode after it, a fair start having been allowed,
and in a few fields got up to it. The fields there are very
huge, and the fences, though very strong, stiff, quick-set
hedges, have no ditches to them. On reaching the fox,
Mr. Thompson kept close behind it, constantly flicking at
it with his hunting-whip, until at last he drove it so
distracted that it dashed into a fence and struggled to force
its way through, where there was no smeuse to help it.
Jumping off his horse, Mr. Thompson secured it, and
carrying it back in triumph to where the hounds were
running the line, he threw it down before them and claimed
his bet.

He was one of the best of the early steeplechase riders,
and the famous Allen M'Donough, with all his recollections
of such men as Jem Mason, Lord Clanricarde, Black Tom
Oliver, Captain Becher, and others equally good, once said
to me : " Of all the jockeys that I often rode against, the
most difficult to shake off was Mr. Thompson. You never
knew when he was done with ; and after you thought his
horse was completely beaten, he would come again and
make a fight of it."

In early life he joined the King's Dragoons in company
with his fellow Yorkshireman, Mr. W. H. Thompson, who was
afterwards well known on racecourses and in the hunting-
field as " Colonel Thompson," through commanding the
East Yorkshire Militia, ot " Beverley Buffs." Together,
when quartered in Ireland, they used to visit the Irish

With the York Packs 293

race meetings, Mr. " Henry " riding in the steeplechases
and Mr. " George " in the flat races. They had a compact
that if either was " called out " in that fire-eating land, the
other was to attend in the capacity of " second." " You
crassed me, sor," said one of the beaten competitors to Mr.
George, who had just won, " and I'd like to know what ye
mane by it." " I did not cross you," replied the other.
" Ye did crass me," returned the Irishman. " I did not
cross you," answered Mr. George ; " but there's an elegant
case of pistols in the carriage there, and I'll cross them
with you as soon as you like." The other suddenly found
he had pressing business elsewhere, and no more was heard
about his grievance.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Animal Magnetism.

In after life Mr. Henry Thompson became very famous for
his marvellous powers as a mesmerist, and he used his
great gifts very much indeed in alleviating pain, and in
assisting in medical and surgical cases. The late renowned
Dr. Simpson, of York, used to tell him that in any serious
case that he was attending, he would come himself, and
throw the sanction of his great name over the case. A
headache would generally speedily yield to a few mesmeric
passes. Stiff joints were frequently manipulated after the
patient had been thrown into a trance, and adhesions were
thus sometimes painlessly broken down, and the full use of
the limb eventually restored, without the subject being
aware of the treatment he had undergone. One person
walked continually round the room when " mesmerised,"
and yet for long afterwards refused even to try and stand
when in possession of his ordinary mental faculties, declar-
ing that the knee-joint was completely anchylosed, and
thoroughly believing that the power of motion had gone.
It was only by bringing him back to his senses suddenly,
when iu the very act of walking, that he at last found out
that he really could walk again.

On another occasion Mr. Thompson very kindly came
to Thorpe Green to endeavour to mitigate the headaches
that the late Mrs. Barnes used constantly to suffer from.

Animal Magnetism 295

On his arrival, the patient could not summon up courage
to be mesmerised, and seeing that she was beginning to
get excited, he made a signal to her husband, bade her
good-night, and left the room. He instantly returned
again very silently with her husband, and the latter passed
into the room, whilst the mesmerist remained behind a
screen, that happened to be there to exclude draughts,
without Mrs. Barnes knowing that he was there. He
began to make " passes," and in a few minutes Mrs.
Barnes exclaimed to her husband, " The pain has moved
across here," putting her finger on the spot indicated.
Very shortly after she exclaimed again, " It is very odd,
the pain has gone altogether," and then Mr. Thompson
stepped out from his concealment, and she found that she
had been mesmerised without her knowing the fact.

On another occasion, the clergyman of the neighbouring
parish of Shipton had a son exceedingly ill with internal
inflammation. The doctors in attendance said that the
only chance for life was to induce a violent perspiration,
but every means to produce this had failed, and in despair
Mr. Pickering sent to ask Mr. Thompson to come and try
his powers. He did so, and sat by the bedside " Willing "
for the desired result, and before very long the child was
bathed in most profuse perspiration, and his life was saved.

The power of clairvoyance, shown by those who are in
the mesmeric trance, is often very great, and a remarkable
instance of this was shown by Mrs. Harland, of Sutton
Hall, who for a considerable time required a course of
mesmeric treatment. It was the custom of Mr. Thompson
to leave his patients in the trance, and allow them to come
naturally out of it, instead of rudely arousing them, as is
more frequently done, and he thought that there was less

296 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

trial to the nervous system by so doing. As a rule they
would awake at their usual time in the morning, as if they
had only enjoyed an ordinary night's sleep, if left quietly
to themselves. Before finally leaving them, however, he
was in the habit of asking them if they were quite com-
fortable, when, if there was anything on their mind, they
would tell him what it was. Unless they were pacified,
and the irritating cause removed, they were quite unable
to rest comfortably, and their nerves became more or less
upset.

When Mrs. Harland, on this occasion, was interrogated,
she replied that she was very unhappy, because George
(Mr. Thompson's son) was ill at Eton. She further stated
that the doctor was treating him quite wrong and thought
it was nothing, and there was a letter in the post-box at
Eton to his father to say so ; " but," she added, " it is not
so, the hurt is here," putting her hand to her temple as
she said the words.

After soothing her as best he could, and seeing her
lapse quietly into sleep, Mr. Thompson went straight home
to Fairfield, and was so impressed with what she had said,
that he only waited to pack up a few things, and then
started off at once for Eton College, actually passing on
his way the very letter of which Mrs. Harland had spoken.
On his arrival he found his son very dangerously ill
indeed, and the latter has kindly written the particulars
as follows : —

" The story of the clairvoyant telling^ my father, when
I was at Eton, that I was very ill, that the doctor there
was treating me quite wrong, that I was suffering from
congestion of the brain from a bad fall I had had against
a door, is quite true.

A nimal Magnetism 297

" My father came down to Eton, took me to see Dr.
Elliotson in London, and the first question I was asked
was, ' Have you had a bad knock on the head ? ' I began
to think, and then remembered that in the holidays, in
rushing out of a room, I had slipped and fallen against the
lock of the door, but beyond having a bad headache, I did
not think anything of it at the time.

" I had to leave Eton, and for a year was neither
allowed to look at a book nor eat any meat, starving both
mind and body."

If it had not been for the very opportune and remark-
able power of clairvoyance shown by Mrs. Harland, the
illness of the young Etonian might have had even still
more serious consequences.

On one occasion Mr. Thompson, with all his experience
of the mysteries of mesmerism, confessed himself completely
puzzled, and to the end of his life was quite unable to
explain, or even understand the agency that produced the
phenomenon. A horse under his management was the
favourite for the Goodwood Stakes, and was sent from
Yorkshire some days before the meeting commenced, for
at that time there were very few trains, and racehorses
had, like other folk, often to do their travelling by road.
It was therefore necessary that they should arrive at the
scene of action a few days before their race, to recover
from the fatigue of the journey.

Mr. Thompson followed a few days after, and, having
heard that there was a famous spirit-rapper in London, he
thought he would go and see his performance, as there
were a few hours to spare, before the coach started for
Sussex. When the question was asked if anyone wished
to call up a particular spirit, Mr. Thompson at once replied

298 The Course, the Cmnp, the Chase

that he should like to communicate with the familiar of
Bill Scott, the famous jockey, — and he was accordingly
summoned. From the very vigorous and characteristic
language that was then rapped out, Mr. Thompson really
believed that it must have been the shade of the jockey
that was present. He ventured to ask, " Who would win
the Groodwood Stakes ? " and received at once the answer
" You won't." Mr. Thompson was much taken aback, and
asked, " Why ? " and the answer again immediately came,
" Because your horse has broken down." As far as he
knew, no one present was aware of Mr. Thompson's
identity or connection with the horse, which did not
belong to him, and was not running in his name.
He had only been in London a few hours, and had
never been to this seance before, though as his was a
prominent figure on the turf, it is probable enough
that he might have been recognised when entering the
room. He was sufficiently impressed with the informa-
tion to go down to Tattersall's before starting for Good-
wood, and there hedged all the money for which he had
backed the favourite.

On arriving at the stables the trainer was on the
watch for him, and, on seeing him, exclaimed, " Oh, I'm so
glad you have come," " I know why," said Mr. Thompson,
" because the horse has broken down." " How did you
know ?" asked the other ; " there was not a soul there this
morning, except the lad and myself, and I've kept him
locked up in the saddle-room ever since we got back."
" Ah," replied Mr. Thompson, " I've a tout that you know
nothing of — one that I can depend upon " — and he then
related to him how he had obtained his information and
been able to hedge the stable money.

Animal Alagneiism 299

During the " sixties " there was an undergraduate at
Cambridge who also had very great power of mesmerising,
though at that period he only exercised it for the sake of
amusement. His " patients " were other undergraduates,
more especially a particular one who was peculiarly
susceptible to his influence, and amongst other per-
formances gave frequent exhibitions of clairvoyance. After
being touched on the " bumps " over the eyebrows, and
made to believe he was blind, he would read any book
aloud, the Times newspaper and so forth ; but the curious
part of it was that the volume in question had to be held
BEHIND HIS HEAD, and if placed before his eyes he was
quite unable to read a word. To all intents and purposes
he was blind for the time being, and would blunder over
furniture in the middle of a well-lighted room exactly as if
he was bereft of sight, or in a completely dark room. Any
small article, such as a knife or pencil, held up behind his
head he would at once identify, and he could recognise
them just the same when some one held them up on the
further side of a closed door, so long as he stood with his
back towards it. We generally kept the door just
sufficiently ajar as to enable us to peep through and see if
he was right, but whether the door was entirely closed or
not made no difference to his power of perception. The
only time I can remember to have seen him puzzled was
when some one took out his watch and swung it round by
the chain as fast as possible. He persisted in saying " It
is a wheel." At last the owner of the watch ceased to
swing it, and immediately the other exclaimed, " Oh, it is
a watch " as soon as ever the gyrations became slower, and
he was also able to discern the hour that the hands
pointed to. When in this state he could tell us where

300 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

any one in the college was, and what he was engaged in
doing — dining, playing cards, or so forth. The only
difficulty was to direct his attention to the particular
person concerning whom the information was required.
He could not always grasp the identity of the individual,
and his mind was apt to wander to other things. When
once, however, he realised who the person was, he was
instantly able to recognise him in whatever part of the
college he might be.

His physical powers were often put to outrageously
severe tests, but undergraduates do not always stop to
consider cause and effect ! The one that he afterwards
used to complain of most — though he was perfectly
unaware of what treatment he had been subjected to, only
knowing that whatever it had been, it had caused his
muscles to ache very much and feel as if they had been
very severely tried — was when he was placed sitting in an
ordinary wooden chair, and was made to hold his legs
out perfectly horizontal from the hips and as stiff as if they
were made of wood. While in this position three stalwart
young fellows would stand on his shins betwixt the knees
and the ankles, and he could bear this great weight — con-
siderably over 30 st. — without giving way in the least.
To enable him to withstand the strain, it was necessary for
two strong men to hold him down in the chair by the
shoulders, pulling backwards with all their might, or else
he would have toppled forwards. I verily believe that
weight might have been piled on until the muscles
snapped before they would have relaxed. It was rather
curious that it was in the muscles of the chest and
shoulders that he afterwards complained of feeling most
aches, and he did not seem to notice much effect on the

Animal Magnetism 301

muscles of his thighs aud calves, which it would seem at
first sight to have undergone the greatest trial.

A further feat was for him to lie at full length on the
floor, and then to be " stiffened " from head to heel, after
which he was raised up " as stiff as a board," and his head
placed on one chair and his heels on another. It would
perhaps be thought that it was an impossibility for him to
sustain his own weight thus, but, in addition to that, the
mesmerist — weighing a good 12 st. — would step on to his
stomach and stand there. I confess I felt very uncomfort-
able at this part of the performance, for I feared lest his
neck might break, though apparently my fears were
groundless, and he never specially mentioned afterwards of
having felt that he had been undergoing a severe trial.

It was sometimes wondered whether he could not,
in this state, compete in a high jump at athletic sports,
for his performances when mesmerised were perfectly
phenomenal. In his own propria persond, he was a short,
slight, rather feeble man, without any inclination towards
athletics of any kind, and of the most moderate muscular
power ; and yet under that mysterious influence he was a
giant in strength and a wonderful athlete. To bring out
his jumping talents it was necessary to make him believe
that he was a cock, and then to tell him to fly. It really
was a most amusing scene. From the moment he
believed that he was really the head of the farmyard,
he would go down into almost a sitting posture and
keep flapping his arms, and crowing, and making the
most extraordinary hops all over the room. This was
varied by endeavouring to scratch up the carpet with
his feet — a la pouk — and then, on finding some supposed
edible, would give a cock's call note, endeavouring all

302 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

the time to pick up the grain with his mouth. Some
Windsor chairs used then to be set back to back, and
with great flaps of his arms, he would come hopping
along, and jump over them with ease. He could just
manage to get over four of them, but five always brought
him to grief ; and yet, with the most undaunted courage,
he would turn round and essay them again. When a
leaping bar was erected, he would " fly " over an extra-
ordinary height, always from the same almost sitting
posture, and he could clear more than five feet, and thus
it was that the idea was suggested of trying him at the
athletic sports. The difficulties in the way were, however,
so very obvious, that the notion was abandoned almost
as soon as it was started.

There was one " character " that was really awful to
look upon, and that was when the bump of " murder " was
touched, though governed by touching at the same time
the bump of " caution." The instantaneous change of
countenance that followed — the most fiendish face that
could almost be imagined that he assumed — was indeed
extraordinary, and fearful to see. The sole idea that then
possessed the unhappy " subject " seemed to be to make
away with the man that he undoubtedly regarded as his
tormentor. Snatching up something in the form of a
knife, he would commence to sharpen it, continually
feeling the edge and the point, and glaring all the time
at the mesmerist. Suddenly, without the slightest warn-
ing, he would leap upon him, and endeavour to stab him
with all his force, and yet that " bump of caution " in-
variably prevented him from actually striking his victim.
Working himself into a frenzy, foaming at the mouth, and
endeavouring with all his might to strike the knife into

Animal Magnetism 303

the other, he presented such a personation of a fiend
incarnate as the most lively imagination could scarcely
conjure up. When he found that he could not drive the
knife into the mesmerist, he would place the point against the
other's chest, and strike the butt with all his force, regard-
less of hurting his own hand, and thus endeavour to efifect
his purpose. Then he would strive to cut his throat,
drawing the knife backwards and forwards, and shrieking
with rage and disappointment. All this time the mes-
merist, a big, powerful man, stood perfectly still, without
moving the fraction of an inch, for if he had met the
blows of the other by ever so little a distance he might
have been seriously hurt, as the would-be murderer was
most violent in his efforts, and every time almost grazed the
skin with his weapon. At the last — and for which we stood
ready prepared to rush to the rescue — the other suddenly
flung the knife away, and with a leap and a shriek, flung
himself upon the other, and seized him by the throat with
both hands. Big and powerful as was the victim, and
puny and weak as was the other, yet such was the extra-
ordinary strength the latter was now endowed with, that
the former was as a child in his grasp, and if immediate
help had not been at hand, undoubtedly he would have
been strangled. As it was, it required the united strength
of two or three of us to drag them apart, and then the
patient was rapidly brought to by flicking a silk hand-
kerchief two or three times across his face, when he could
come to himself with a start, perfectly oblivious of what
had just taken place.

What the motive power is in mesmerism, and the uses
that may be made of it, has yet to be discovered and
developed. That by its aid deeds can be performed that

304 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

would otherwise be miraculous, is an undoubted fact, and
electricity is probably a large element in the case. It is,
however, a subject that should not be trifled with, and it
hardly seems mete that it should be used as a means of
extracting shillings from the multitude, and shown as a
popular spectacle on the boards of a music hall.

The leaps and bounds by which science has advanced
during the present century, and the progress that has been
made, is something so marvellous that it is impossible to
foresee what new developments may be in store in the
coming era. Amongst them, however, electricity must
take a foremost place, and, in studying it, much will be
learned about its distant branches, in which, very possibly,
may be included " mesmerism," or rather, " animal
magnetism."

CHAPTER XXIV.

CONCLUSION.

There are times and seasons in the lives of men and
nations, when it is advantageous to take stock of their
position, and the same holds good of sports and pastimes,
as well as in matters of business and commerce.

For me this seems a suitable opportunity. My life
coincides with the last half of the century, the landmarks
are therefore prominent, and the horizon is clearly defined.

What, then, is the key-note of the whole. It may,
perhaps, be summed up in the single word " Pace."
Everything now gives place to this. In it is embodied
the feverish haste and love of constant change, which now
characterises the nation. It is even shown by its amuse-
ments, by the rise of the popular taste for the Palace of
Varieties, and the decline of solid worth, typified by the
opera and classical music.

In every detail of life a tendency is shown to have
something new and showy, regardless of lasting qualities.
" Jerry " buildings take the place of the old-fashioned
houses, built to last for centuries. The broad-cloth which
made the fame of British goods pre-eminent throughout
the world, and which could be worn for half a lifetime, is
ousted from its place by shoddy-made clothes. The taste
being now for newness and cheapness, honest workman-
ship is at a discount, and goods are only "made to sell."

3o6 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

This was amusingly demonstrated lately, when taking
a pair of razors to be " set " at the cutler's shop. They
were given to me by my father, and had been left to him
by his father, whose decease occurred in 1853, and they
have been my toilet companions since 1874. In joke I
said to the shopman, " These are good steel, are they not ?
You do not sell such razors now ? " To which he replied,
after gravely examining them, " No ! why, you might shave
every day with them for three or four years ! It would
never pay to sell such steel." When I told him I had
been shaving with them for more than twenty years, he
was horrified. He took care, however, to do something for
trade before he returned them, for he ground more steel
away than had been worn in all the years that they had
been in use.

In our sports the tendency for pace is shown by the
anxiety shown to break records, and from morning to night
everything seems done in a hurry.

For producing increased celerity the cleverest brains
have been ever at work devising fresh aids in every phase
of life, and improvement follows rapidly upon improve-
ment.

The mail coach of the early part of the century gave
way to the railway train of the " forties," but this, in
turn, is as much surpassed by the express corridor train
of the " nineties," as the " Kocket " excelled the four-horse
coach of the earlier period.

When the detonating percussion cap supplanted the
flint-lock gun, it was deemed to be perfection, yet it had
to give way to the Lefauchaux breechloader, on account of
the increased ease and quickness in loading ; yet this
again, in these days of " ejectors " — with their marvellous

Conclusion 307

delicate mechanism — is as much out of date as the most
antiquated weapon of the early days of gunning.

" Shooting over dogs " has had to retire in favour of
" driving," and as " gunners " have multiplied by thou-
sands in the last part of the century, the amount of game
to satisfy the ever-increasing army of shooters has had to
be augmented accordingly, while the shooting rents have
risen correspondingly. Since " practice makes perfect,"
however, it is undoubted that the art of gunning has
attained a much higher level than was formerly the case,
and in no branch of sport do I notice such an improve-
ment to have taken place as in that of shooting. The
skill that would have caused a person formerly to have
become a celebrity is now so common that it is scarcely
noticed, and there are dozens of good shots now to each
one that there was some thirty or forty years ago, — per-
haps, though, there is not much difference between those
who were then at the very top of the tree, and the few
who occupy the same position at the present time, for
" there were brave men before Agamemnon," and even in
the days of flint-locks there were men who could have
held their own with the very best shots that are famous
now.

In fishing there is a similar vast increase in the
numbers of the votaries of the sport, and where there was
one angler in the " fifties " and " sixties," there are prob-
ably now hundreds. The fish have become so wary from
constant persecution, that increased skill is required for
success, though the improvement in the tackle within reach
of the angler has kept pace with the exigencies of the
situation, and enables the followers of the sport to cope
with the difficulties of the time. Split-cane rods ; beauti-

3o8 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

fully made waterproof, tapered lines, and marvellous
" floating flies," make " dry-fly " fishing comparatively easy
to what it was when this form of angling first came into
fashion. Successful as this is on the sluggish chalk
streams of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Southern England,
it must not be deemed that there is no skill required to
capture the sharp-eyed trout by the wet-fly process in the
well-whipped, rocky streams of the North of England.
Many a dry-fly fisherman, who has thought in his heart of
hearts that he was about to give the natives a lesson, has
had to confess that he had something yet to learn, when
he ruefully compares his own light basket at the end of
the day with the well-filled panniers of those he thought
he was about to teach.

In racing, the desire is all for " short cuts," and plenty
of them, in lieu of the old four-mile races, and " heats,"
and whereas the latter imperatively required a stout, true
made, strong constitutioned animal to be successful, while
the former may be won by a horse possessing only the one
attribute of speed, it is obvious that the result of the
racing of this century has not been altogether in the
direction of the improvement of the horse, as a generally
useful animal. In this no doubt the old truism still holds
good, as in every other walk of life, " medio tutissimus
ibis," and if the Jockey Club will but resolutely follow
out the plan that they have sketched, of increasing the
distances for older horses, and deferring the running of
two-year-olds till the autumn of their year, much good
may result. The professed object of permitting racing
to take place at all, is the improvement of the breed of
horses, and if, on the contrary, deterioration takes place,
the only weapon of defence is taken away from the fol-

Conchision 309

lowers of the pursuit against the arguments of the great
majority of the people, who decry racing on account of its
attendant evils. As a means of gambling only, racing
would have but a short life before it.

In the accessories of racing — though not in the horses
themselves, except in the item of speed — a great improve-
ment has taken place, especially in the matter of comfort
and facilities for seeing. This has been largely due to the
advantages offered by the managers of enclosed courses,
who vie with each other in catering for the patronage of
the public. What was good enough for our grandfathers
is no longer good enough for us, and a higher standard of
comfort is assured at all well-managed race meetings.
The tracks, too, are equally looked after, and, being well
covered with herbage, which is duly watered and rolled, all
objectionable turns done away with, railings instead of posts
at the turning-points, and " straight miles " and " six
furlongs," the jockeys of the period know little of the
rough country courses that their predecessors had to
jeopardise their lives and limbs over in the usual exercise
of their profession.

Cricket has also shared in the general improvement.
Picturesque pavilions replace the former scanty accommoda-
tion that sometimes even consisted of only a few wooden
benches, while the " pitch " itself more nearly approaches
the smoothness of a bowling-green, than the ill-cared-for
grounds on which the " All England " and " United All
England " elevens were wont to meet the local " Twenty-
twos " during their country tours. The improved
conditions under which cricket is now carried on make it
possible to compile the enormous scores that are now so
frequent, for unless the wicket " breaks " in the course of

3 1 o The Course, the Camp, the Chase

a match, there are few irregularities in the ground to give
assistance to the bowler.

Still, the removal of the restriction which formerly
forbade the hand to be raised above the shoulder when
delivering the ball, makes it even now almost as dangerous
to face very fast bowling as in the days when the
humorous picture appeared in Punch, of the victim to the
terrific pace of Jackson, who was one of the fastest bowlers
that the world has ever seen.

Other pastimes have held sway for a time, and then
have lost their attraction when some newer rival has
appeared upon the scene. Croquet for many years held
absolute sway at garden parties until it remained but a
memory, when lawn tennis became the universal favourite.
This, however, in turn has been compelled to partially
retire, owing to the unexpected restoration of croquet to
popular favour, though the latter has reappeared in so
altered a form that its earlier worshippers have difficulty
in recognising it as the same game they so energetically
pursued in the bygone days of yore.

Golf, the latest innovation, long maintained a pre-
carious foothold at " Westward Ho," in Devonshire, but
never succeeded in establishing itself elsewhere until it
suddenly swept with irresistible force from across the
Border, and now boasts legions of followers in England as
keen as even Scotchmen themselves.

The pastime, however, that has really caused a social
revolution is cycling. When once the light, swift " safety "
made its appearance, shortly followed by the invention of
the pneumatic tyre, it " caught on " with marvellous
rapidity, and has undoubtedly come to stay. So long
as the wooden " bone-shaker " was the only pattern,

Conclusion 311

few persons cared to tussle with that clumsy machine.
This was followed by the high " ordinary," and a con-
siderable impulse was given to the new movement when it
was found possible to make a long journey with its
assistance, without undue fatigue. It was, however, an
impracticable mount for ladies, and was only suitable for
young, athletic persons, who did not regard a fall from it
as necessarily a serious accident. In its present form the
" ubiquitous bike " has become the common hack of every-
one from the highest to the lowest, and has supplied a long-
felt want in the happiest manner. Apart from the
pleasure of rapid travelling, it has placed a cheap mode of
locomotion within the reach of those whose limited means
preclude the expenditure involved in keeping even the
humblest pony and vehicle ; and it has come as a boon and
a blessing to hundreds of girls who formerly were con-
demned to pass their youth in the narrow sphere that was
limited to the extent of their own powers of pedestrianism.
A great change has taken place in coursing, and
although Altcar still keeps up its renown and high
character, in other localities recourse has been obliged to
be had to enclosed places, owing mainly to the scarcity of
hares, through the ill-advised " Hares and Babbits Bill,"
fathered by Sir William Harcourt. The character of the
sport is necessarily altered, and there is little left of the
old charm that surrounded it formerly. When hares were
plentiful, many a large farmer kept his brace or two of
greyhounds, and was in frequent enjoyment of a merry
gallop after them, in company with a friend or two when
riding round his farm, and this naturally led to a local
coursing club, and the meeting of a few neighbours to run
their dogs against each other in friendly rivalry. The Bill

3 1 2 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

above mentioned struck a deadly blow against this
innocent, healthy, country sport. It destroyed one of the
few amusements within reach of the farmers, who have so
many other evils to contend against, and has practically
put an end to local coursing.

The retrospect of hunting, unfortunately, is scarcely
very favourable to its future, for forces are at work which
tend in many respects to militate against its well-being.
Increased facilities of travel, combined with lowered rents
and depreciated income, serve to induce owners of estates
to winter abroad, and thus save the cost of keeping up
establishments at home with a stud of hunters they can ill
afford to buy or to maintain. The country-house being
shut up, the next step is to let the shooting also, and this
is often taken by persons who do not hunt and who
naturally desire to obtain as large a return for their
outlay as they can manage to secure. Foxes are therefore
not so carefully preserved, subscriptions to the hunt are
diminished, and the social gathering of neighbours at the
meet is reduced, all from the same cause.

Personal influence counts for much everywhere, and
most of all in the country. When the landlord no longer
resides at home, encouraging the sport by his example and
precept, his tenants do not take the same interest in the
hunt as when the squire is a hunting man and lives
amongst them.

As local purchasers become more scarce, the induce-
ment to breed a good class of horse is withdrawn, and so
the farmer ceases to take an occasional day with the
hounds when he has no longer a promising young horse
coming on to educate into a hunter that might some day
carry the squire. His active participation in the iield

Conclusion 313

having ceased, he is apt to become more impressed with the
usefulness of barbed wire for strengthening a weak place
in the fence or making up a gap, while he does not realise
the difference it would make in the price of his farm
produce if all the money put in circulation by a hunt was
suddenly withdrawn.

How many and vast are the interests involved in the
maintenance of a pack of hounds was very clearly shown
when the senseless raid against hunting was promulgated
in the early " eighties " by the Parnellites in Ireland.

The distress in the county of Kildare alone was very
great, and in many cases unexpected. It was not only the
persons directly employed that were affected, such as
grooms, saddlers, blacksmiths, and car drivers, but also all
the trades which in their turn were dependent on their
support, and supplied these people with their necessaries ;
bootmakers, small provision dealers, tailors, public-house
keepers, and others were all involved in a common ruin.
As no one had any money to spend, the farmers were
utterly unable to sell poultry, butter, eggs, milk, beef, or
mutton, in addition to hay, corn, or straw. The ramifica-
tions proved to be so great that the so-called leaders of
the nation were compelled to reconsider their shortsighted
policy ere another season commenced, and to receive
hunting again into favour to stave off actual want and
starvation.

One thing is certain. If all hunting throughout
England was to end, the loss of the money that now
circulates therefrom would cause an amount of misery and
hardship which it is impossible to estimate, and that must
eventually recoil upon the farmers. In every way it is
their interest to foster the chase. The market for farm

314 The Course, the Camp, the Chase

produce that is thereby caused would be eagerly welcomed
by any other country in the world, if they had the oppor-
tunity to secure it ; and, without hunting, the pinch of free
trade would be felt far more acutely than it even is at
present.

The fostering of field sports is a national question.
The hardihood and resource that are thereby engendered
go far towards making the national character ; and if
Waterloo was won in the Eton playing-fields, it is the love
of sport that make the rank and file the all-conquering
soldiers that they are, the envy of the world, and the
despair of foreign nations — Vivat Regina, et fiat Imperium
in orhe terrarum.

THE END,

RECENT SPORTING BOOKS.

Hunting Reminiscences of Frank Gillard,
with the Belvoir Hounds, i860 to 1896.

Recorded and Illustrated by Cuthbert Bradley, "Whipster"
of Land and Water. With a Photogravure Frontispiece and
Two Steel Engravings, and with over Sixty other Illustrations
by Cuthbert Bradley and from Pictures by B. Nightingale, etc.
One volume, large 8vo, 15s.

A Mingled Yarn.

The Autobiography of Edward Spencer Mott (Nathaniicl
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crown 8vo, 12s. 6d.

" It is most interesting reading, and gives you glimpses of many strange byways of
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most entertaining book." — Referee.

" A very readable autobiography." — Literary World.

Cheap Edition. Eighth Thousand,

Riding Recollections and Turf Stories.

By Henry Custance, Thrice Winner of the Derby. One vol.,
8vo, cloth, 2s. 6d.

"An admirable sketch of turf history during a very interesting period, well and
humorously written." — Sporting Life.

Wild Norway:

With Chapters on the Swedish Highlands, Jutland, and
Spitzbergen.

By Abel Chapman, Author of "Wild Spain," etc. With Seven-
teen Full-page Illustrations and numerous smaller ones by the
Author and Charles Whymper. Demy 8vo, i6s.

" There is not a chapter in this book which would not be missed." — Spectator.

"A very good, very accurate, and deeply interesting book of wild life and natural
history." — Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic Ne2i's.

"Will be re.id with keen interest by the angler, the hunter of wild game, and the
student of bird life." — Scotsman.

"It will be found not only an invaluable, but a delightful companion by the sports-
man, the angler, and the ornithologist." — Times.

LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD, 37 BEDFORD STREET.

THE SPORTSMAN'S LIBRARY.

Edited by the Right Hon. Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart., M.P.

A Re-issue, in handsome volumes, of certain rare and entertaining books on
Sport, carefully selected by the Editor, and illustrated by the best Sport-
ing Artists of the day, and with reproductions of old Plates.

Library Edition, 15s. a Volume.

Large Paper Edition (limited to 200 copies), 2 guineas a volume.

New and final volume (VIl.) jusi out.

DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING.

By WILLIAM SCROPE.

Edited by the Right Hon. Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart., M.P.

With Three Coloured Lithographic and Ten Photogravure Plates and other
reprodiictio7ts of the Original Illustrations.

Volumes already issued.
Volume I.
Smith. THE LIFE OF A FOX, AND THE DIARY OF A HUNTS-
MAN. By Thomas Smith, Master of the Hambledon and Pytchley Hounds. With
Illustrations by the Author, and Coloured Plates by G. H. Jalland.

Volume II.

Thornton. A SPORTING TOUR THROUGPI THE NORTHERN

parts of ENGLAND AND GREAT PART OF THE HIGHLANDS OF
SCOTLAND. By Colonel T. Thornton, of Thornville Royal, in Yorkshire. With
the Original Illustrations by Garrard, and other Illustrations and Coloured Plates by
G. E. Lodge.

Volume III.
Cosmopolite. THE SPORTSMAN IN IRELAND. By a Cosmopolite.

With Coloured Plates and Black and White Drawings by P. Chenevix Trench, and
reproductions of the Original Illustrations drawn by R. Allen, and engraved by
W. Westall, A.R.A.

Volume IV.
Berkeley. REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN. By the Hon.

Grantlev F. Berkeley. With a Coloured Frontispiece and the Original Illustrations
by John Leech, and several Coloured Plates and other Illustrations by G. H. Jalland.

Volume V.
Scrope. THE ART OF DEERSTALKING. By William Scrope.

With Frontispiece by Edwin Landseer, and nine Photogravure Plates of the Original
Illustrations.

Volume VI.
Nimrod. THE CHASE, THE TURF, AND THE ROAD. By Nimrod.

With a Photogravure Portrait of the Author by D. Maclise, R.A., and with Coloured
Photogravure and other Plates from the Original Illustrations by Alken, and several
reproductions of old Portraits.

Volume VII.
Scrope. DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. By William
Scrope. (See abcnie.)

The above Seven Volumes form the completed set of the Sportsman's Library.

The set of Seven Volumes can also be obtained bound in Morocco.

Price on application.

LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD, 37 BEDFORD STREET.

^A/etosier rarnav . ,aiiry jr veierinary MeOmm

Cummings Scnooi of Veterinary Medicine at

Tufts University

200 Westtioro Road

Worth Grafton, MA 01536