HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 137 



Cleveland, but he commenced liis sporting career as 

 whipper-in to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn's harriers. 

 I fancy I hear you say, " No doubt Bob was famously 

 mounted in the stables of the great Welsh baronet ! " 

 Not he, indeed; Bob's stud would have averaged 

 40?. a head, being for the most part cat-legged, light- 

 carcassed bits of blood, either turned out of the 

 racing stable as good for nothing, or bought from 

 some neighbouring farmer at the price above quoted. 

 But Bob soon made them fencers, if he could make 

 nothing else of them. On my asking him in York- 

 shire how he had come off as to broken bones, &c., 

 he thus answered me, and I know he spoke the 

 truth : "I have broke three ribs on one side and two 

 on the other, both collar-bones, and I have been 

 scalped." I knew the horse that scalped him, by 

 kicking him on the head after throwing him ; but 

 Bob's description of the accident was rich. " He 

 tumbled me down as we were coming away with our 

 fox," said he, " and kicked me on the head till the 

 skin hung down all over my eyes and face ; and do 

 you know, sir, when I got to the doctor I fainted 

 from loss of hlood.'' This last sentence was given 

 in a tone indicative of its creating surprise that a 

 whipper-in could faint. Bob conceived that fainting 

 was the peculiar accomplishment of a lady.' 



The riding of Dick Knight, huntsman to the 

 Pytchley at the time Mr. Smith had the Quorn, was 

 of the most daring character. 'An annual visitor 



