TheCompleteMemoirsOfGeorgeSherston

PART SIX: THE COLONEL'S CUP
I

BY THE end of February I had made further
progress in what I believed to be an important
phase of my terrestrial experience, In other words
(and aided by an exceptionally mild winter) I had
averaged five days a fortnight with the hounds. I
had, of course, confided in Dixon my intention of
entering Cockbird for the Ringwell Heavy Weight
Race. My main object now seemed to be to jump
as many fences as possible before that eventful day
arrived. Meets of the Dumborough had been dis-
regarded, and a scries of short visits to the Rectory
had continued the "qualifying" of Cockbird. ("Quali-
fying" consisted in drawing the Master's attention to
the horse during each day's hunting; and I did this
more than conscientiously, since Stephen and I were
frequently shouted at by him for "larking5' over fences
when the hounds weren't running.)

The problem of Harkaway's lack of stamina had
been solved by Dixon when he suggested that I should
box him to the Staghound meets. He told me that
they generally had the best of their fun in the first
hour, so I could have a good gallop and bring the old
horse home early. This took me (by a very early
train from Baldock Wood) to a new and remote part
of the country, and some of the fun I enjoyed there is
worth a few pages of description.

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