BREEDING OF HUNTERS. 295 



hand, and crowing like a bantam cock of the purest 

 breed, the Squire at his side looking like a fine old 

 game cock that had won his hundred battles, and 

 could afford the other's triumph. He denied, but 

 Day persisted that it was his run fox, and there was 

 no further wrangling except by the hounds in eating 

 him. Then occurred another pleasing scene. The 

 Squire and Day drawing by alternate calls their res- 

 pective hounds, which was speedily done, all jealous 

 feelings subsided, and civil greetings were exchanged 

 on departing." 



An anecdote is told in illustration of Jack-a-Lan- 

 tern's gentleness. When Mr. Lindow had broken 

 his collar-bone, and was quite unable to hold The 

 Clipper, even with the "Clipper bit/" Mr. Smith 

 changed horses with him for the day. The meet 

 was at Scoling's Gorse, near Melton, which has long 

 since fallen under the plough. Mr. Lindow rode 

 Jack with one arm in a sling, and the Clipper was 

 brought out with bit-cheeks some eight inches long, 

 and the huge attendant curb-chain. Every one 

 thought Mr. Smith bewitched because he would not 

 mount till the curb-chain was taken off ; and after 

 pledging themselves that he would never be able to 

 pull him up till he reached the sea-coast, they heard 

 early in the afternoon that "Mr. Smith had run 

 away with The Clipper/' and that he could never go 

 half fast enough for him any part of the run. 

 Apropos of this runaway match, the best riders al- 

 most universally agree that although some horses 

 get their heads up and cannot be rounded without a 

 curb, it should only be used as an auxiliary, and that 

 if a horse runs away with you, you must have re- 

 course to the snaffle. Mr. George Talbot, who for- 

 merly managed Lord Vernon^s hounds in the days 

 of Sam Lawley, never allowed a curb-bridle to be 

 used ; and Dick Knight, Lord Spencer ; s huntsman, 

 and the finest of horsemen, adopted the same rule. 



