Chris nodded.
"And when 'e went down, my last bob went with 'im, but I didn't bear you no malice, sir, an' I was the first man to get to you. I've done a bit o' riding in my time, an' I know all about 'ow it feels to get knocked out, though, thank Gawd, I never got such a 'biff' over the 'ead as that 'orse what was follerin' 'anded yer!"
Chris laughed, and passed his hand carefully over a chestnut mare, which turned a vicious eye upon him.
"Gently, gel, gently," walking up to her head. "Pity she's so bad-tempered, isn't it, Scotty?"
"Turnin' sour, that's what she is, though when she does take it into 'er 'ead to try, she wants some catching, an' no error. It's them sort as gets innocent men warned off," Scotty concluded bitterly, having a lively recollection of an interview with the Stewards in connection with the running of the mare, "though 'Eaving was witness," as he told the Stewards, "that all parties were innocent enough, except the jady mare."
Chris chuckled at the memory.
"Haven't forgotten your 'carpeting' yet, then, Scotty? It was bad luck. I expected them to send for me too, as the trainer. I think I should have asked one of 'em to ride the mare a few times, to see how in and out she runs. I've got her in a Selling Hurdle at Wye next week, and win or lose, she's to be sold—can't afford to keep such a dangerous customer as that, can we, Scotty?"
"We can not," the other agreed with feeling. "A 'orse like that would break the Bank of England, an' then win a nice race direc'ly you sold 'er."
The two strolled round all the boxes—Chris had eight horses in his charge now—and when he had seen them all done up, went in to breakfast, attended by his dogs, as usual.
No matter in what part of the house he might be, or how long absent, his faithful escort of three awaited him, eager, loving, full of warm welcome, and if the fox-terrier, "Copper," were sometimes jealous of his son "Penny's" accomplished tricks, and Chris had occasionally to smack them both into good behaviour, "Cypka," the bull-pup, gave him no trouble whatever, acting, indeed, as foster-mother to the other two, and occasional peacemaker.