io8 MEMOIR OF 



first time Templer and I stayed with him at 

 Stock House." 



"Quite true," replied Mr. Digby ; "you 

 rode over a chained gate, and took up the 

 hare before me. I could have shot vou on the 

 spot." 



" You'd have spoiled some sport if you 

 had," said Russell not a little amused that the 

 incident, and youthful jealousy it had given rise 

 to, should be remembered after the lapse of so 

 many years. 



That very night, after the dinner and day's 

 sport had been duly discussed, Russell mounted 

 a hack, one he had brought with him from 

 South Molton, and, starting from Stock, he 

 shaped his course, as he best could, directly for 

 Bath, hoping to reach that city, a distance of 

 some fifty odd miles, before the inns and stables 

 were all closed for the night. At Warminster, 

 however, he found it expedient to leave his 

 own horse behind him and hire a fresh one, 

 the landlord of the principal inn being quite 

 ready to supply him vi^ith " a rare goer," which 

 he averred " would carry him like an infant in 

 a cradle, and cover the ground in less than two 

 hours." 



"Bring him out, then," said Russell, "as 

 quickly as you can ; that will suit me exactly." 



The night was now pitch dark ; not a moon 

 nor a star in the sky ; not a ray of light, except 



