, I did go
once to Hungerford races, and I ventured to suggest that we
should never get near the place. Not a bit of use; he knew every
foot of the country. It was then about nine; he would guarantee
that we should be there by twelve, at latest."

"So we should have been, but for accidents," struck in Drysdale.

"Well, at any rate, what we did was to drive into Farringdon,
instead of Hungerford, both horses dead done up, at twelve
o'clock, after missing our way about twenty times."

"Because you would put in your oar," said Drysdale.

"Then grub again," went on Blake, "and an hour to bait the
horses. I knew we were as likely to get to Jericho as to
Hungerford. However, he would start; but, luckily, about two
miles from Farringdon, old Satan bowled quietly into a bank,
broke a shaft, and deposited us then and there. He wasn't such a
fool as to be going to Hungerford at that time of day; the first
time in his wicked old life that I ever remember seeing him do
anything that pleased me."

"Come, now," said Drysdale, "do you mean to say you ever sat
behind a better wheeler, when he's in a decent temper?"

"Can't say," said Blake; "never sat behind him in a good temper,
that I can remember."

"I'll trot him five miles out and home in a dog-cart, on any road
out of Oxford, against any horse you can bring, for a fiver."

"Done!" said Blake.

"But were you upset?" said Tom. "How did you get into the bank?"

"Why, you see," said Drysdale, "Jessy,--that's the little
blood-mare, my leader,--is very young, and as shy and skittish as
the rest of her sex. We turned a corner sharp, and came right
upon a gipsy encampment. Up she went into the air in a moment,
and then turned right around and came head on at the cart. I gave
her the double thong across her face to send her back again, and
Satan, seizing the opportunity, rushed against the bank, dragging
her with him, and snapping the shaft."

"And so ended our day's fishing," said Blake. "And next moment
out jumps that brute Jack, and pitches into the gipsy's dog, who
had come up very naturally to have a look at what was going on.
Down jumps Drysdale to see that his beast gets fair play, leaving
me and the help to look after the wreck, and keep his precious
wheeler from kicking the cart into little pieces."

"Come, now," said Drysdale, "you must own we fell on our legs
after all. Hadn't we a jolly afternoon? I'm thinking of turning
tramp, Brown. We spent three or four ho