VALOUR. 115 



the hounds. Moreover, he always likes his horse, and 

 his horse always seems to like him. This gentleman, 

 too, is blessed with an imperturbable temper, which I 

 have been given to understand the squire of Tedworth 

 was not. 



Instances of Tom Smith's daring are endless. How 

 characteristic was his request to a farmer near Glen- 

 gorse, that he would construct such a fence as should 

 effectually prevent the field from getting away in too 

 close proximity to his hounds. " I can make you up a 

 stopper," said the good-natured yeoman, " and welcome ; 

 but what be you to do yourself, Squire, for I know you 

 like well to be with 'em when they run ? " 



" Never mind me," was the answer, " you do what I 

 ask you. I never saw a fence in this country I couldn't 

 get over with a fall!" and, sure enough, the first day the 

 hounds found a fox in that well-known covert, Tom 

 Smith was seen striding along in the wake of his 

 darlings, having tumbled neck-and-crop over the obstacle 

 he had demanded, in perfect good humour and content. 



If valour then, is a combination of pluck and nerve, 

 he may be called the most valorous sportsman that ever 

 got upon a horse, while affording another example of the 

 partiality with which fortune favours the bold, for al- 

 though he has had between eighty and ninety falls in 



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