176 A JOB FOR THE BAILIFF. 



obstacle was big enough to cause a momentary check to the 

 wearer of more than one scarlet coat congregated in front of 

 me, including the redoubtable Squire Braithwaite,who at the 

 time rented the glebe for the shooting. Seeing them cornered 

 I could not resist the temptation to show them what my cob 

 could do ! and without drawing rein put the grey at the 

 timber, which I did not expect him to clear, and 

 fortunately for us both he did not tip, but kneed the top rail 

 with such force that his weight carried it clean away. I 

 was hardly over before I heard the Squire at my side, whose 

 voice rang out ' Well done, Fred, you've given Stacey (his 

 baihff) a job, at any rate ? The grey was soon distanced 

 now, but not for long, hounds taking the line straight across 

 the brook pointing for Hall's farm and Swadborough 

 Spinney, and when I came to the water a similar ex- 

 perience awaited me. The edge of the brook being much 

 undermined, no one save the huntsman had ventured from 

 such a bad take-off, but knowing every foot of its muddy 

 banks, I made straight for a fairly sound place, when the 

 grey had the satisfaction of giving the field a lead, and 

 whilst others made for the ford higher up stream, for another 

 brief spell, we found ourselves going strong with but few 

 companions. 



The Hired Mount and Second Horseman! 



Early in the seventies, a rather fine-looking man used 

 occasionally to put in his appearance, whose general 

 demeanour caused no little curiosity and amusement. 

 People living in the isolation of the country are neces- 

 sarily more inquisitive than townsfolk, and many were 

 the questions asked as to who this stranger could be, 

 and where he came from ! to which no satisfactory reply 

 being forthcoming, the natives concluded that he must be 

 out for the day, on a hired mount, and some charitably 

 hinted that his ' whole get up ' was * included in the price.' 



