320 LEAVES FROM A HUNTINC DIARY 



over a delifi^htful country which we rarely cross. A momentary check in a 

 ploughed field, and one of our best sportsmen '' was in terrible plight with 

 a staked horse — I am afraid, a hopeless case. 



What a run of bad luck we are having with our horses ! Mr. ChafTey- 

 Collin losing a valuable one last Wednesday, the result of a fall. Wh)' 

 don't all hunting men insure their hunters with the companyf whose 

 managing director is one of the oldest and keenest followers of our 

 hounds ? They will be well treated, and it adds 50 per. cent, to your 

 confidence crossing a blind country. I speak from experience. 



Samuel Fitch on "The Grey Cobb" 



Crossing the lane we turned to the left, through the Talbot Wood. 

 Take my advice, and never coast that wood to the left if you can avoid 

 it, for you will need an uncommonly clever and free horse to do it, and 

 a pilot as good as Jack on the black. Turning to the right, over the 

 Ongar road, they ran on over the big rough fields in the direction of Blake 

 Hall, and then turned back to the right by Ongar Park Farm, and crossing 

 the Ongar line opposite the Fort, entered the woods near the keeper's 

 lodge, where the huntsman slipped us all. and most of us rode for Easterby 



* Mr. Benton, 

 t The Horse, Carriage and General Insurance Company, Ltd. 



