■63 



of the journey, which reached its culminating point at the Red Road 

 jumps. Countess was fretful, and twice refused the double, but the 

 Lord, though a fresh one, went over in a manner which shewed that the 

 hand on the reins was as deft as ever. Her ladyship was then pleased 

 to go over and went the rest of the course in a better humour. The 

 Count, however, had soon to stop, as he broke a stirrup leather, through 

 which, unfortunately at the end of the course, there was no scent. 



The pack " filling the air with joyful melody swept after them like a 

 hurricane," a tumble or two taking place early in the chase, and as they 

 neared the double a cry arose " they come." With a long lead there 

 did come with a vengeance the little country-bred Abbess, tearin.i^ at 

 her bit like a fiend, but the young Zoologist on her back wisely let her 

 go her own way, and she was in and out of the double in a twinkling, 

 closely followed in capital style by the puggery-wigged Judge, ^lariner, 

 a clever grey, the Lancer, Commandant, Duchess, The Man, Sheer 

 Legs, The Squeeler and others, after which came the tail of the pack, 

 who created much diversion. Most got well over the v/ater jump, which 

 was followed by a big mud wall, but the interest in the chase was then 

 spoilt by the absence of paper, and the finish was a disorderly scramble, 

 horses dropping in from all points of the compass, of which the first 

 flight comprised Mariner, Abbess, the Judge, Duchess, etc, etc , etc. 



There were again many " larfable incidents " from which I cull the 

 following : — Mr. Chashmer renewing on foot his investigation into the 

 geography of the " Gunges " of Tolly and Bally, in vain search for his 

 quad. Mr. Koochper-Warny with a wild look in his eye and a dirty 

 hoof print on his stomach running after his handsome brown, from which he 

 had been " pipped" in a collision, and when he came to his senses (it is 

 said) abusing in the words of the great Scamperdale, who could not 

 swear or use coarse language because he was a lord, the scandalous, 

 unsightly, idolatrous, rusty-booted, nump-handed son of a pufiing corn- 

 cutter who had cannoned against him. Next Mr. Ditcher on the Glasgie 

 Apprentices' chestnut, emulating the feats of Chowpy. He did'nt like 

 his first fall, and was heard roaring like the immortal Lord -" I've broken 

 my back," — " Tve broken my legs.-' — "I've broken my ribs." — " I've 

 broken my collar bone." " I've knocked my right eye into the heel of 

 my left foot, " "I'm kilt entirely," — but after four more tumbles he got 

 used to it, and came in chirpy and aptly singing the glee beginning — 



Five times by the taper's light 

 I've fallen on my head this night : 



And his topee looked like it ! Then Mr. Jack Spraggon on Yeoman 

 with a flat hat en regie, galloping past instead of over the double, which 

 was so unlike him that I think his spectacles must have been dimmed 

 ■by the morning dew. Mr. G. Aspirant executing a (faux) pas de seul 



