ON HUNTING, 31 



If you hunt in a country like Meath, one of big 

 ditches, gallop like blazes between the ditches. You can, 

 because the enclosures are big and the going good, but 

 pull up at the ditches ; let the horse potter down as low 

 as ever he will, as if he were about to smell the filthy 

 water they usually contain, till you think he will topple 

 in. Then let his head go, give him a slight kick in the ribs 



THERE IS SOMETHING SO HARD AND NASTY-LOOKING ABOUT 



TIMBER. 



or, better still, squeeze him ; a strong heave and a half stroke 

 on the opposite bank and up on top and away. I am not 

 referring to the ordinary ditches, but the big ones 20 ft. or 

 more on the top ; they are called " meering fences " in Ireland, 

 which divide adjoining farms, and are big and evil enough to 

 divide continents. This is the only way I know to get over 



