20 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



delighted at being able to jump big fences, and 

 imagined my mount's capacities in that direction 

 was unlimited. I remember one day there was a 

 crush at a small handgate and it seemed to me a 

 good opportunity to jump the fence. At the first 

 attempt my horse refused, and I have no idea 

 whether the place was big or small, but as I was 

 going at it again — probably riding very badly — 

 " Brooksby " shouted out to me, " Boy, you will 

 kill yourself." It was nothing to do with pluck, 

 for I had not the faintest conception what was 

 feasible, and my ignorance was only equalled by 

 my excitement. 



I carried the memory of these few happy days 

 with me to sea, and oft lived them over again when 

 keeping a night watch beneath the Southern Cross. 

 Life in the Merchant Service is very well in its way, 

 but the man with a love of sport will not find 

 much opportunity for indulging his bent. During 

 two years aboard ship, the rat was the only animal 

 I had a chance of hunting, and having no terrier, 

 I was obliged to catch them by hand. It was better 

 fun than you might imagine, and the risk of being 

 bitten lent a little extra excitement. In fair weather 

 towards evening a rat would often go aloft for a 

 little fresh air and then, unless he jumped for the 

 deck, his fate was generally sealed. The rest of 

 the ship's crew preferred to be spectators only in 

 these hunts, and consequently I had a monopoly 

 of the sport. 



On leaving the sea, my love for country pursuits 

 and sport made me think of farming, and I have 

 been engaged in that fascinating but unprofitable 

 business ever since. I am not going to apologize 



