THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



I looked back twice, and could only see four of the field in our 

 rear, and there were but five besides myself well with the 

 hounds. " This is beautiful," I said : " Divine ! " shouted John 

 Hawkes. " Indeed it is, sir," said Wing, the grazier, going in 

 his usual place. I thought so too. I could not help giving 

 them a cheer, which I don't often do, and got a rebuke for my 

 pains. " Leave 'em alone, sir," exclaimed Meynell ; " they 

 cannot be doing it better; I'll bet a thousand on my hounds, 

 if you will not over-ride them." Ten minutes more, however, 

 began to tell tales. One of the best nags out of Melton was 

 about to look queer, — and so did his owner too, for he had 

 been just saying he could go for another hour. It is true he 

 had rammed him along at a devil of a rate, and he rides with 

 rather too slack a rein. " Never loose their heads, my boy, 

 whatever you do," said my old uncle to me, soon after I was 

 breeched : and no man's advice was better than his. He was 

 one of the best of his day ; but still I think he would be 

 called " sloiu " now. 



' But to continue our run. We crossed the brook under 

 Norton-by-Galby, and went as straight as a line for Rolleston- 

 wood, Forester and Lambton being the first over it, and my 

 young one following in the very foot-holes of their horses. 

 " Ha ! ha ! " said I to myself, as we rose the hill in Galby -field, 

 which, by the bye, being deep and stiff', took rather tight hold 

 of the nags — " another ox-fence, and most likely another fall." 

 — " I'll not have this ox-fence," said I ; " they are turning to 

 the right, and I'll make for yonder sheep-pen in the corner." 

 But there was no such luck for me, or my horse. " It is as 

 fast as a jail-door," said Loraine Smith, who was trying to open 

 the gate ; " and there is not room to jump into and out of it." 

 What was to be done ? The hounds were going with a burning 

 scent, and appeared to be bearing away to the left. " Here 

 goes, then," said I ; " there is nothing else for it " ; so catching- 

 fast hold of the young one's head, I sent him manfully at the 

 ox-fence ; but it had like to have been a case. Tlie ditch was 

 broad and deep (Frank was here observed to listen most 

 attentively, with the hope, no doubt, of being better acquainted 

 with the nature and character of this ox-fence), the hedge 

 thick and plashed, and the rail beyond them strong. Neither 

 was this all. There was a considerable fall, or drop, into the 

 next field, which would have been bad enough had my horse 



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