428 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



the Others, ' Forrard on.' Look at Mr. Vickerman, sailing away 

 in front. There's none on you can't touch him ! " Becking- 

 ton was, of course, dehghted to hear of "Tip.'s" performance, 

 and said that Joe Reeve was quite excited talking of it. 



If Mr, Vickerman notes his good luck he is equally careful 

 to relate his misfortunes, so four days later, in a run with the 

 stag from Norton Heath, thrown out by having to shift his 

 stirrup leathers, and wrongly directed by a man perched on the 

 top of Waples Mill, there was nothing for it but to return, sad 

 and sorrowful, moralising on the inexpediency of trying a raw 

 horse, chanoino- horses, wrono- directions, &c. Sheffield Neave 

 lost hounds several times merely from the act of changing 

 horses, in the days when he kept the staghounds and they 

 happened to be running straight at the time. Though they 

 may not appear to be going fast at the time you are with them, 

 only stop for a minute or two and they literally vanish. 



The run was long and straight, the hind an extraordinary 

 good one ; Mr. Glyn did not reach home (Foot's Cray) before 

 half-past twelve at night. Called the " Prince of Lightweights " 

 by Button and Chafey, Mr. V. was always gallant, so we are not 

 surprised to find him offering his light tweed overcoat to a 

 young lady, a niece of Mr. Betard's, who on a very stormy day, 

 December i8th, was riding about with throat exposed and little 

 turn-down collar, the fashion at that time, but refusing it, she 

 braved the elements to the end.) 



