THE CHACE. 
made an excellent choice ; but after that period, I saw 
you not only attempting a line of your own, but taking 
liberties with your horse, and anticipated the fate you 
have met with. If you remain with us long, you will 
be sure to find out that riding to hounds in Leicester- 
shire is different from what it is in most other countries 
in England, and requires a little apprenticeship. There 
is much choice of ground ; and if this choice be not 
judiciously made, and coupled with a cautious observ- 
ance of pace, a horse is beaten in a very short time. If 
you doubt my creed, look to the events of this memorable 
day." Snob thanks him for his hints, and notes them in 
his book of memory. 
The fame of Snob and his little bay horse reaches 
Melton before he walks in himself. " That provincial 
fellow did not go amiss to-day," says one. " Who was 
that rural-looking man on a neatish bay horse all but 
his tail who was so well with us at the first check?" 
asks another, who himself could not get to the end, 
although he went " a good one" three parts of the way. 
There is no one present to answer these questions ; but 
the next day, and the next, Snob is in the field again, 
and again in a good place. Further inquiries are made, 
and satisfactory information obtained. On the fourth 
day, a nod from one a "how do you?" from another 
"a fine morning," from a third are tokens good- 
fa umouredly bestowed upon him by some of the leading 
men ; and on the fifth day, after a capital half-hour, in 
which he has again distinguished himself, a noble bon- 
