fate more steadily in the face.

I had no great appetite for my dinner, but I sat over an excellent
bottle of port, sipping and sipping, each glass I swallowed lending a
rose tint to the future. The second bottle had just been placed on
the table before me, when O'Gradys groom came in to receive his
instructions. He had heard nothing of my resolution to ride, and
certainly looked aghast when I announced it to him. By this time,
however, I had combated my own fears, and I was not going to permit his
to terrify me. Affecting the easy nonchalance of that excellent type Mr.
Ulick Burke, I thrust my hands into my coat-pockets, and standing with
my back to the fire, began questioning him about the horse. Confound it!
there's no man so hard to humbug as an Irishman, but if he be a groom,
I pronounce the thing impossible. The fellow saw through me in a
moment; and as he sipped the glass of wine I had filled out for him, he
approached me confidentially, while he said in a low tone--

'Did you say you 'd ride him?'

'Yes, to be sure I did.'

'You did! well, well! there's no helping it, since you said it. There's
only one thing to be done'--he looked cautiously about the room, lest
any one should overhear him. 'There's but one thing I know of---let him
throw you at the first leap. Mind me now, just leave it to himself; hell
give you no trouble in life; and all you have to do is to choose the
soft side. It's not your fault after that, you know, for I needn't tell
you he won't be caught before night.'

I could not help laughing at this new receipt for riding a steeplechase,
although I confess it did not raise my courage regarding the task before
me.

'But what does he do?' said I--'this infernal beast; what trick has he?'

'It isn't one, but a hundred that he has. First of all, it isn't so easy
to get on his back, for he is as handy with his hind foot as a fiddler;
and if you are not mighty quick in mounting, he 'll strike you down with
it. Then, when you are up, maybe he won't move at all, but stand with
his forelegs out, his head down, and his eyes turned back just like a
picture, hitting his flanks between times with his long tail You may
coax him, pet him, and pat him--'faith, you might as well be tickling
a milestone; for it's laughing at you he 'll be all the time. Maybe at
last you 'll get tired, and touch him with the spur. Hurroo! begorra,
you 'll get it then!'

'Why--what happens then?'

'What happens, is it? M