138 ikin^s of tbe Buntina^^fielb 



He stood six feet, and could jump his own height. Of 

 his prowess as a boxer, his old friend, Grantley Berkeley, 

 gives the following illustration : — 



On a lovely day at the close of one of those beautiful 

 springs which used to usher in the summer, my friend 

 strolled forth from Colwick Hall, with rod in hand, for 

 some quiet amusement in the Trent. 



The cool river lured our fisherman to bathe. Pausing 

 for an instant to look at the state of the water, shouts 

 and cries, the trampling of horses, and the clash and 

 clink of martial sabre-sheaths, attracted his attention, 

 and on the other side of the river he beheld the 

 yeomanry at drill. 



' Better day for that,' said Musters, ' than it is for fish- 

 ing ; I'll go and see the fun.' 



He sat down on the grass, and immediately undress- 

 ing, made his clothes and shoes into as tight and small 

 a bundle as he could, binding them with the aid of a 

 handkerchief upon his head and shoulders, and then 

 slipped quietly into the river, there a hundred yards 

 wide, more or less, and very rapid. Being an excellent 

 swimmer, he soon did the distance and landed on the 

 opposite bank, when he suddenly became aware of a huge 

 bargeman or boatman standing close by, with his eyes 

 and mouth wide open in speechless astonishment. He 

 looked at the bargeman with a good-humoured inquiring 

 sort of smile on his face, then said : — 



* Now, my good fellow, the world's wide enough for 

 both of us. I don't want you here ; go on about your 

 business, and I'll attend to mine.' 



' Shan't,' was the rude reply. ' I'se as much right here 

 as thou hast ; an' I wonna go till oi loik.' 



' Oh, very well,' said the squire very coolly, taking out his 



