Preface. vii 



Over half a century's experience must be my 

 justification for speaking to a certain extent 

 judge-matically, to use an American phrase, of 

 sports in which, for that long period, I have taken 

 an active part, and of which I have as keen a 

 sense of enjoyment as at any period of my life ; 

 and though, to use words of Shakespeare, — 



" The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees 

 Is left, this vault to brag of," 



1 yet hope to hear the cheery note of the 

 huntsman's horn and the welcome cry of " Gone 

 away ; gone away ! " on many occasions, when 

 seated on a clever nag at the cover-side, and 

 after a rattling gallop over a good line of 

 country, to be there, or thereabouts, when 

 the cry of " Who-hoop ! who-hoop!" makes the 

 welkin ring. 



