196 Mms of tbe 1buntin0*ffiel5 



picture. At a glance he took in the whole scene ; and 

 he retained it so thoroughly in his mind, that, though 

 he was late home after the run to Allington, he 

 commenced his work immediately after dinner. He 

 worked on, hour after hour, until five the next morning, 

 and then he had finished the picture which hangs in 

 the dining-room at Fir Hill. Almost incredible as it 

 may seem, he never once touched a single figure of man 

 or horse again ; and yet, so exact are the likenesses 

 that every one can be identified. The Hunt wished to 

 have the picture engraved, but Mr Smith declined such 

 an honour. It was, however, after all, engraved without 

 his knowledge. 



Mr Thomas Smith had a great belief in the capabilities 

 of fox-hunters as light cavalry, and his enthusiastic 

 efforts to put his theory into practice resulted in the 

 formation of the ist Hants Light Horse. He was 

 seventy-five years of age when that corps was founded, 

 yet old as he was he set them an example in shooting 

 which even the youngest member had difficulty in 

 following. For, this wonderful old man, with the short 

 rifle supplied to the corps, at nine hundred yards made 

 twelve bull's eyes in twenty-one shots, and never missed 

 the target once ! That was a feat of which even 

 Captain Horatio Ross need not have been ashamed. 



It is odd that neither the editor of the F^'e/d, nor 

 any other hunting authority I have consulted, is able to 

 give me the date of Mr Thomas Smith's death, and 

 my own researches have been equally unsuccessful. . 



