116 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



A similar run in 1867 from Clawson Thorns over 

 the same line of country, with a kill at Willoughby, 

 is on record for the Ash Wednesday of that year. 



Of the horses Gillard rode, he had many a story 

 to tell. " Yes, Wing was a big valuable horse, full 

 of quality and as good a shaped one as ever you 

 saw, but he was not my horse ! I never thought 

 him quick enough ! He was bought by the Duke 

 from Squire William Wing of Market Overton, 

 hence his name, and he carried me several seasons 

 on the Leicestershire side. I remember on one 

 occasion he put me down, and altogether out of a 

 run, by jumping short at the river Smite. The 

 banks of the river are steep, being rough with the 

 growth of thorns, and Wing in mid-stream showed 

 no inclination to make an effort to get out again. 

 I began to wonder where the deuce I should be, 

 for Tom Chambers with my second horse had gone 

 on with hounds, not knowing that I was left 

 behind. A Leicestershire farmer at last came to 

 my rescue, and at once said, ' My little old mare 

 will pull him out for you ! ' When he brought 

 the mare, I exclaimed that she was only about 

 half the weight of my horse and could not possibly 

 be strong enough to pull him out, but he only 

 laughed as he adjusted the end of the rope in a 

 slip knot round Wing's neck. In a very few 

 minutes he had my big horse high and dry on the 

 bank, but I exclaimed, ' He's dead sure, enough,' for 

 the rope had drawn tight and strangled the poor 

 brute, so that he lay on the bank apparently 

 lifeless. My farmer friend, however, laughed, and 



