60 NIMROUS NORTHERN TO UR. 



interest to masters of neighbouring packs, and thirdly, it was 

 possible that I might injure his horse. As, however, the value of 

 the offering is increased by the sacrifice that is made to it, it may 

 be well imagined that I availed myself of every opportunity short 

 of being quite thrown out, of sparing Lord Elcho's horse during 

 every part of this run, and a very favourable one was most fortu- 

 nately afforded me over the distressing moors of the first twenty 

 minutes, by the judicious piloting of Frank Collison. I was also 

 indebted to a lucky "nick" for getting up at the check in 

 Marchmont-park, where about two minutes breathing-time was 

 allowed my horse. The consequence of all this was, that when 

 we entered the deep vale of Merse, he was going well within 

 himself, and never once put a foot into a wrong place. 



There are few periods in the life of a sportsman which afford 

 him such an overflow of real delight as that which he experiences 

 when in the act of dismounting from his horse, and congratu- 

 lating his companions, at the finish of such a glorious run as 

 this. Williamson and his men were absolutely in raptures, whilst 

 - Lord Archibald Seymour was scarcely himself. Mr. George 

 Baillie's countenance looked more good humoured than ever ; I 

 quite forgot that I lived in France ; and Sir David Baird must 

 have fancied himself once more at Melton. But if my pen could 

 become a pencil, I would sketch the group of happy faces, for 

 words here are weak. Among other vagaries, I had in my 

 pocket a small flask of eau de vie, which went from mouth to 

 mouth, without even the ceremony of a wipe from the coat- 

 sleeve as it passed, but its contents were delicious and refreshing, 

 for we were all more or less exhausted by the pace, and the 

 severity of the country towards the finish. Add to this the day 

 was warm, with scarcely a breath of wind. 



There is always some anxiety after such a run as this, on a 

 warm day in November, for the fate of the horses that have 

 been ridden in it. I am happy to say, I heard of none falling 

 victims to that of this day, although I saw two with somewhat 

 of alarming symptoms towards the finish of it. Those that came 

 under my observation, afterwards, were not much the worse. 

 Sir David's horse was only bruised on the point of the shoulder ; 

 Lord Eglinton's was not cut in an acting part, and therefore soon 

 got to work again ; I passed Elcho Castle on my road home, 

 looking merely somewhat sombre ; and I was rejoiced to find 

 that, after his gruel at Greenlaw, Lord Elcho's horse trotted 

 home under me as comfortably as if he had not seen a hound. 



I asked Lord Elcho the name and history of this horse. " I 

 call him Inglis," said his lordship, "because I bought him of 

 an Edinburgh dealer of that name, from whom I have had 



