Notable Runs 65 



being desperately hard up for money, he would let 

 me have for a hundred guineas, he himself having 

 given a hundred and fifty for it. 



Well, the Thursday came ; the hounds met on 

 Squashtail Common ; Mrs. C. turned out in her 

 barouche to see us throw off; and, being helped up 

 on my chestnut horse. Trumpeter, by Tagrag and 

 my head groom, I came presently round to join 

 them. 



Tag mounted his own horse ; and, as we walked 

 down the avenue, "I thought," he said, "you told 

 me you knew how to ride ; and that you had 

 ridden once fifty miles on a stretch ? " 



"And so I did," says I, " to Cambridge, and on 

 the box too." 



" On the box ? " says he ! " but did you ever 

 mount a horse before ? " 



" Never," says I, " but I find it mighty easy." 



"Well," says he, "you're mighty bold for a 

 barber ; and I like you, Coxe, for your spirit ; " 

 and so we came out of the gate. 



As for describing the hunt, I own, fairly, I can't. 

 I've been at a hunt, but what a hunt is — why the 

 horses will go among the dogs and ride them down 

 — why the men cry out "yooooic" — why the dogs 

 go snuffing about in threes and fours, and the 

 huntsman says, " Good Towler — good Betsy " ; and 

 we all of us, after, say, " Good Towler — good 

 Betsy " in chorus ; then, after hearing a yelp here, 

 and a howl there, tow, row, yow, yow, yow ! burst 

 out, all of a sudden, from three or four of them, 

 and the chap in the velvet cap screeches out (with 

 a number of oaths I shan't repeat here), " Hark, to 

 Ringwood ! " and then, " There he goes ! " says 

 someone ; and, all of a sudden, belter skelter, skurry 

 hurry, slap bang, whooping, screeching, and hurraing, 



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