114 IkinQS ot tbe 1bunting*dftelt> 



light of the moon, away went Mytton as soon as the 

 appointed signal was given. 



The first obstacle was the sunk fence, into which, as 

 may be expected, he was landed ; but the opposite side 

 being on a gradual slope, from bottom to top, the 

 carriage and its extraordinary inmate, by dint of 

 whipping, were drawn out without receiving injury. 

 Nowise disconcerted, he sent his team at the next 

 fence — the wide drain — and such was the pace he went 

 at, that it was cleared by a yard or more ; but the jerk 

 pitched Mytton on the wheeler's back ; crawling over the 

 dashing leather, however, he resumed his seat, and got his 

 horses again into the proper direction, and taking the two 

 remaining fences in gallant style, got safe into the turn- 

 pike road and pocketed the cash. This occurred at Mr 

 Walford's, of Cronkhill, about four miles from Shrewsbury. 



Mytton may be said to have lived in a storm, for a 

 row was his delight. Nevertheless, although there was 

 an apparent ferocity of temper about him at times, it 

 was blended with much kindness of heart, and he scarcely 

 ever thrashed a man that he did not give him something 

 afterwards as amends. I remember hearing of an 

 unfortunate horsebreaker having been carried by a half- 

 broken colt into the midst of his hounds. Mytton 

 flogged him severely, and then gave him two guineas. He 

 would not, however, suffer any man to take an improper 

 liberty with him, and, in that case, there was no com- 

 pensation for a thrashing. A Shrewsbury tradesman, 

 when a little 'sprung,' ventured to call him 'Johnny.' 

 Mytton floored him on the spot. 



Curiously enough, extravagant though he was in 

 other respects, John Mytton made no great show in his 

 establishment at Halston. There was every comfort, but 



