FOX-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 105 



horse was flying over them, and afraid to touch a 

 thorn, I almost envied his great weight. Certain, 

 however, is it, that hunters carrying heavy men 

 do walk into their fences in a most enviable 

 manner, although, indeed, if they did not walk into 

 them, they could never gallop across a deep 

 country for an hour, and a hundred fences into 

 the bargain. 



'' I really was much pleased with the scientific 

 manner in which Mr. Wilkinson and his horse 

 crossed the country in this hour's gallop. We 

 exchanged but few words with one another — 

 with the exception of his telling me he was too 

 heavy for a huntsman, and an occasional lamenta- 

 tion of our ill-luck. Matty, however, once 

 addressed his horse, and it had the desired effect. 

 We came to a very awkward fence, a wide ditch 

 from us, and no footing for our horses but among 

 some strong stubs. ' Tak' time, lad,' said 

 Matty. The lad did take time, and did it like 

 a workman. Towards the end of our gallop we 

 came to another still worse place. It was high 

 and stiff and near to a tree. Matty rode up to 

 it, and not liking it, stood looking at it. ' Shall 

 I try and pull down those strong binders,' I 

 said. ' No, no,' replied Matty, ' we'll gang at it,' 

 and over he went at a good hard gallop. All his 

 fences but this were taken either at a stand or in a 

 walk. 



"This certainly was a good run, and a good 

 finish, and the brush was asked for by a gentleman 

 (Mr. Dryden, I think) who had ridden well to the 



