62 Random Rkcoli^Kctions of the 



liim famously, one of whicli, with upriglit 

 shoulders and nothing before you, would go 

 swishing her tail with a suspicion that she 

 meant to whip round. But no, in the hands 

 of so clever a horseman she seldom made a 

 mistake, and nearly always landed safely, 

 though perhaps few men would have been 

 clamorous for the mount. The huntsman 

 greatly distinguished himself on this mare on 

 the occasion of a famous run from Ropsley 

 Rise. Hounds had been sometime in the 

 wood, and we could hardly make out whether 

 there was a fox or no, when I came upon 

 Cooper in one of the rides apparently abstracted 

 or unwell, and not exactly in touch with the 

 pack. Addressing him as to what they were 

 doing, in a few minutes a fox broke covert on the 

 Ropsley side, and Cooper, pulling himself to- 

 gether, galloped along a muddy ride in the 

 direction the sound came from, and on emerg- 

 ing from the wood saw hounds streaming away 

 a mile in front. Taking in the situation at a 

 glance, he went straight as an arrow, and 

 succeeded in getting on terms as there was a 

 pause near Ha3^dor Southings. The run was 

 very severe past Dembleby and Osbournby to 

 Aswarby, were the fox was killed, Sir Thomas 



