67 



CHAPTER VII. 



What the Green Dragon has to answer for few- 

 can tell, for there have been so many convivial dinners 

 given at that celebrated hostelry by gentlemen who are 

 devoted to field sports, that it is not to be wondered at 

 that, after the guests have perhaps dined not wisely but 

 too well, many wagers of a more or less extraordinary 

 character have from time to time been arranged. It is 

 true that they have afforded a large amount of amuse- 

 ment and satisfaction to the onlookers in most cases, 

 although some of these foolhardy undertakings have 

 visited one or other of those engaged in his more 

 serious hours with sorrow and remorse. 



It is a cold evening and a goodly number of sports- 

 men are assembled in the cheery old dining-room of 

 the " Green Dragon," which serves not only for this 

 purpose, but is used occasionally at Christmas-time 

 for county dances, play-actings, and the like. On this 

 occasion the annual dinner is being given to Mr. 

 Miller, M.F.H., and it is not surprising that on such 

 an occasion hunting-men, after having enjoyed the 

 pleasures of the table, should feel inclined to recount 

 the pleasures of the chase. 



Oldwig is dilating upon the speed and cleverness ot 

 his hunter. Dragoon. 



" I believe," says he, addressing Winebold, " that old 

 horse of mine would jump twenty-eight feet of water, for 



