THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



if it would not hurt him, he would like to be shot out of a 

 cannon's mouth. Albeit, there was no cause for complaint 

 now ; still my horse appeared to be going at his ease ; in 

 short, he delighted me. I said to myself, " You are worth 

 double what I gave for you." He jumped an ox-fence (Frank 

 here again looked surprised), the next but one after the bullfinch, 

 and then a stile, with an awkward foot-bridge. A widish brook 

 he, of course, took in his stride — for all young ones will leap 

 brooks, if the riders will only let them go their own pace 

 at them ; so I did not think much of that ; but I could not 

 help saying to myself, — for there was no one very near to have 

 heard me, — " / Jiave got a trump, I believe ; the blood of Herod 

 will tell." Still he kept shaking his head in an extraordinary 

 manner ; I had never seen him do so before. If I had had my 

 whip in my hand, I should have given him a " nohher " ; for, 

 you know, it's awkward work going very fast at high and 

 strong timber — post and rail, or what not — with a blind ditch 

 on the rising side, and your horse shaking his head like a 

 terrier killing a rat. I could not do this, however ; for I liad 

 lost my whip, and part of my breeches as well, at that infernal 

 bullfinch. I know not how it happened, but that day I was 

 not in leathers ; for John Hawkes and myself alwaj^s ride 

 in leathers, though people say " it looks sloiv." I suppose 

 Pritchard thinks corduroys less trouble ; for he often says, 

 when he wakes me, " Likely to be wet, sir ; better not wear 

 leathers to-day." (The washerwoman polishes the corduroys, 

 and he cleans the leathers.) To proceed with my story. When 

 we checked for a minute or two under Carlton Clumps, I found 

 what it was that made the young one shake his head. He 

 had got a thorn in one cheek, out of that infernal bullfinch, 

 and the blood was streaming down the other, from a rip from 

 one of the growers in it. I got the thorn out the best way I 

 could ; but my horse was evidently in much pain. What was 

 to be done ? I could have cried ; for I love horses better than 

 most things, and abhor cruelty in any shape. I condemned 

 myself ; I wished I was anywhere but where I was, and said 

 to myself, " What could have possessed me to ride Brilliant 

 to-day, when I have nine seasoned liunters, all sound, in my 

 stable, and every one fit to go ; and Griffiths, my groom, told 

 me I had better not ? " " I'll go home," I said ; but, confound 

 it, at that very moment. Champion and Statesman hit off" the 



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