Dreams of breeding winners of the Derby flitted across the little man's mind, but he could never fix upon a suitable sire, and for aught I know he may be still cogitating on that important subject.
When I made Monsieur H—— 's acquaintance, I had with me a pony I picked up a bargain at Newmarket, and when I met the jovial little man out riding we used to have a canter together.
It was one night at a supper the match between our nags was first mooted.
Somebody had caught a splendid basket of trout, and wished his friends to share the finny delicacy. When the speckled beauties had been done justice to, and grog and cigars was the order of the evening, the proposition about the match, previously mentioned as a joke, was brought forward in real earnest.
The landlord was willing to run his Clotilde against my pony Jack over a mile for any reasonable sum—owners to ride. After the usual amount of desultory talk the match was at last arranged, the stakes to be £25 a side, and an early day was fixed for its decision.
The advantages were to all appearances not with me. I was nearly a stone heavier than my opponent, and the long stride of his mare would tell against Jack. My only chance of success lay in the fact that the mare was entirely out of condition, and could not be got ready in the time, whereas my pony had not an ounce of superfluous flesh about him. I knew also that Jack could go a rattling pace, and that he would be quicker on his legs than the mare.
The wily landlord was not ignorant of his mare's weak point, and no time was lost in putting her into hard work and practising her to jump off quickly at the word "Go" given by his billiard-marker.
The latter part of the business was the source of much amusement to the onlookers, and puts one in mind of Jennings' teaching Gladiateur similar lessons before a certain Cambridgeshire.
On the important day Jack was very troublesome at the post, he was too eager to begin, while Clotilde stood watchful, but quiet as a sheep. Her schooling had apparently not been wasted. When the flag fell—we had an example—the mare was as ready to commence as the pony, and ere half the distance had been covered her long stride began to tell, and I could see that only an accident would save the race. I nursed my impetuous little brute as much as I could for a final rush, but my opponent was up to every movement and was not going to be caught napping.