VALOUR. II/ 



The leap consisted of four strong rails, higher than a 

 horse's withers, an approach down hill, a take-off poached 

 by cattle, and a landing into a deep muddy lane. I can 

 recall at this moment, the beautiful style in which my 

 leader brought his horse to its effort. Very strong in 

 the saddle, with the finest hands in the world, leaning 

 far back, and sitting well down, he seemed to rouse as it 

 were, and concentrate the energies of the animal for its 

 last half-stride, when, rearing itself almost perpendicu- 

 larly, it contrived to get safe over, only breaking the 

 top rail with a hind leg. 



This must have lowered the leap by at least a foot, 

 yet when I came to it, thus reduced, and " made easy," it 

 was still a formidable obstacle, and I felt thankful to be 

 on a good jumper. 



Of late years I have seen Mr. Powell, who is usually 

 very well mounted, ride over exceedingly high and for- 

 bidding timber so persistently, as to have earned from 

 that material, the nom de chasse by which he is known 

 amongst his friends. 



But perhaps the late Lord Cardigan, the last of the 

 Brudenells, afforded in the hunting-field, as in all other 

 scenes of life, the most striking example of that " pluck ' 

 which is totally independent of youth, health, strength, 

 or any other physical advantage. The courage that in 



