94 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



horse and man — both steeplechase heroes of renown — fell 

 victims to the uncompromising timber. We seldom jump gates 

 in Leicestershire — never, if we can help it — for the double 

 reason that most of us have long ago learned to be afraid of 

 them ; and, secondly, that we go through so many every day that 

 our horses get altogether out of the way of looking upon them 

 as jumpable fabric. So, when the horse of the country is. 

 suddenly called upon to negotiate one as a fence, he is only too- 

 likely to imagine some mistake has been made — and so omits- 

 to rise in time to avoid making another himself. The conse- 

 quences are generally unpleasant, as the gate seldom fails to- 

 resent the liberty, and the gateway is too often paved with 

 brick ends and rough blocks of stone. Nor was the example 

 in point the only instance of the day to illustrate the in- 

 advisability of such essays ; for, in addition to the downfall of 

 the pair that have borne the grenade so gallantly, a worse- 

 disaster overtook Mr. Pryor in the loss of his grand and 

 venerable chestnut. The latter injured himself so severely over 

 another gate in the course of the day, that orders were given for 

 his destruction. How many seasons the old horse had carried 

 his master I am unable to say ; but he was at least " of age,'" 

 and an association commenced at Oxford has concluded witli 

 some ten seasons at Melton. 



But of the run just commenced. — A dive through the ash 

 plantation to the left, a wriggle through close-growing trees,, 

 and a scramble over others recently cut — were the outcome of 

 despair and the renewal of hope half crushed. Hounds swung 

 leftward, too ; and the half-field lost was easily to be recovered, 

 by horses fresh and fit. That Burton Flat is lovely riding, when 

 a fox keeps to the grass and the scent is hot. The fences, 

 unless my craven soul misguides me, took a great deal of 

 covering. One's own spurs are as a rule well sharpened ; the- 

 order to " drive him at his fences " was executed as well as a 

 long pair of legs and a very pronounced dread of a fall can 

 effect ; Confidence (chestnut gelding, pedigree unknown, not for 

 sale) is a lengthy horse and a powerful jumper. Yet the ditch 



