SEASON 1878-79 131 



bridge, having slipped away ahead to get a flying 

 start and be first man, which was his delight. 

 Away he went, and after jumping one fence 

 successfully he tried to jump the rails which ran 

 down to the canal. Unfortunately for him there 

 was a space at the end of the fence to which his 

 horse swerved, thinking to get round it. The 

 result was certain catastrophe, the bank being 

 slippery and too narrow, besides the pace being far 

 too great to attempt such a feat. Mr. Gordon and 

 his horse went with a mighty splash into the stream, 

 both bobbing to the surface, the rider swimming 

 out for the bank. The horse followed him up and 

 knocked him down as he swam, so that if we had 

 not lent timely assistance it would have been a 

 very awkward moment indeed. Some years later 

 he threw up his farm, and the fates banished him 

 to a non-hunting country. I can tell you that 

 when he said ' good-bye ' to me, he had tears in his 

 eyes ! " 



The widest fixture from Belvoir was Haver- 

 holme Priory, the home of the Winchilseas, where 

 hounds were always welcomed, and her ladyship 

 on each occasion of their visit had a button-hole of 

 choice flowers ready for Gillard, who submitted to 

 the decoration with that courtly grace that always 

 distinguished the huntsman of the ducal pack. A 

 good day's sport was enjoyed there on February 

 21st, it being a singular coincidence that three 

 foxes were slain in the vicinity of bricks and 

 mortar. The first was killed after a nice gallop of 

 thirty minutes from Evendon Wood to the " Old 



