10 RIDING RECOLLECTIONS. 



The good grey, having gone in front from the find, was 

 perhaps a little blown, and dropping his hind legs in 

 the farthest ditch, rolled very handsomely into the next 

 field. " It's not your fault, old man ! " said Ben, patting 

 his favourite on the neck as they rose together in mutual 

 good-will, adding in the same breath, while he leapt 

 to the saddle, and Tranby acknowledged the line 

 " Forrard on, Sir Richard ! Hoic together, hoic ! You'll 

 have him directly, my beauties! He's a Quorn fox, 

 and he'll do you good ! " 



I had always considered Ben Morgan an unusually 

 fine rider. For the first time, I began to understand 

 why his horse never failed to carry him so willingly 

 and so well. 



I do not remember whether Dick Webster was out 

 with us that day, but I am sure if he was he has not 

 forgotten it, and I mention him as another example of 

 daring horsemanship combined with an imperturbable 

 good humour, almost verging on buffoonery, which 

 seems to accept the most dangerous falls as enhancing 

 the fun afforded by a delightful game of romps. His 

 annual exhibition of prowess at the Islington horse 

 show has made his shrewd comical face so familiar to 

 the public that his name, without farther comment, is 

 enough to recall the presence and bearing of the man 



