COLONEL GOSLING. — THE THREE MELTONIANS. 57 



REMARKABLE JUMPS. 



In the early days of the Billesdon or " Beautiful Hunt " 

 as it was called, Col. Gosling of the Blues and his brother 

 (the hero of the following adventure), the head of the great 

 banking firm, were ever to the fore. 



I remember on one occasion, when the hounds were 

 running hard in the direction of the Coplow, they crossed 

 the brook between Frisby and Billesdon, Mr. Gosling being 

 the only one to follow them straight over ; for although 

 during the greater part of its course the brook is very easily 

 negotiated, at the spot where it confronted Mr. Gosling, 

 it is approached by a steep bank, a thick-set fence with a 

 big drop to the opposite side, the landing being at an 

 equally acute angle, the brook running in what may be 

 termed a ravine. Too late to pull up or turn aside at the 

 pace he was travelling, it was " neck or nothing," and right 

 well did both man and horse acquit themselves, for both 

 landed in safety on the farther slippery bank. The whole 

 conntry side were attracted to the spot the following day, 

 and many were the expressions of wonder that the horse's 

 back was not broken, and that he and his venturesome rider 

 were not precipitated into the stream. 



The Three Meltonians. 



The hounds being in full cry, the writer once had the 

 luck to see three young bloods deliberately sail over a five- 

 barred gate and the posts which flanked it on either side. 

 The centre nimrod took the gate, leaving a post each to his 

 comrades. All three, needless to add, were splendidly 

 mounted, full of verve, and possibly well provided with 

 "jumping powder," and to see them all rise in the air at 



