46 Random RecolIvECTions of the 



occasion, after landing over a biggisii fence on 

 tlie same animal, there happened to be a 

 plongh left carelessly on the head-land, which 

 the horse dexterously avoided by jumping a 

 second time, so that it constituted an in and 

 outer. This also dislodged the rider, who was 

 none the worse, and seemed to make no more of 

 the routine of somersaults than a professional 

 acrobat. The same horse was a fine specimen of 

 a hunter, and afterwards won the Farmers' 

 Handicap at Croxton Park. The owner was a 

 clever, well-read man, an amusing companion, 

 and an eccentric character withal. He lived a 

 few miles from our residence, and, being a 

 capital shot, used to join us in some rough 

 shooting to a brace of pointers and the 

 appetiser of a hard day's walking. He was a 

 little late one morniug, and at last turned up 

 on horseback with a '' churchwarden " in his 

 mouth, white linen shirt, with only one button 

 in front, and a substantial coat, whose capacious 

 pockets were equal to holding his unstocked 

 gun, or the stowing away of a week's pro- 

 visions. 



It was one day when hounds had been 

 drawing Harlaxton Wood, towards the latter 



