138 Bttitng; to f^oimtJg. 



How man}' indifferent runs would have been " red 

 letter" ones, I wonder, had this course been generally 

 adopted ; and when I think how short life is at 

 best, and how by far the most joyous of its fleeting 

 moments are spent in riding to hounds, it is, indeed, 

 grievous to recollect how blind by far too many of 

 us are to our own interests and to those of the 

 sport we love. 



But hark ! a cheer from Will pronounces that 

 Bonnylass has set matters right, and we must 

 now put our horses in motion, and again ride with 

 such nerve and discretion as we may individually 

 possess, for although to do justice to the pack is our 

 first duty, to do justice to our horse is no less certainly 

 our second. So now for a few words on that head. 



Make up your m.ind as soon as you enter a field 

 where you purpose quitting it, and do not alter 

 such resolution unless the hounds suddenly change 

 their course, or from some other equally good and 

 unforseen cause. Pick the best, that is, the easiest 

 exit from each field which the direction hounds are 

 taking permits of, and never ride too close behind 

 another man, or, in other words, always allow 

 sufficient interval in which with certainty to pull 

 up your own horse should his fall. Always, more- 

 over, try to keep as close to hounds as is legitimate 

 with as little exertion to your horse as is compatible 



