NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 417 



joined it on our road home. We found again at Raskeleigh, but the 

 fox taking a very bad line, we could do nothing with him, and the scent 

 was wretchedly bad. 



Still I have an incident or two to relate. First, about half a dozen of 

 us came suddenly, as we turned the corner of a cover, on some high 

 spiked rails, placed on very sloping ground. I pulled up, as did two 

 gentlemen who were with me at the moment ; but seeing Harrison take 

 them on his^,big chesnut horse, without a pause, and perceiving the 

 foot-hold to be good, I followed him, and the gentleman with the cork 

 leg followed me. I do not think I ever rode over a fence of this 

 description before, and should not have ridden at it at all, had not Harrison 

 taken it before me. Secondly, I have to produce a verification of the old 

 adage of " Brag is a good dog, but Hold-fast is a better." Mr. Johnstone, 

 of the Carabineers, on his great Irish mare, and myself, had been boasting 

 in the morning, that, mounted as we were, we ** would not be stopped by 

 any thing." Alas ! in the second run, we allowed Lord Kelburne to 

 plant us both at a brook ! And what excuses can be offered ? For Mr. 

 Johnstone — none, although the banks were queer, and Collier had 

 dropped short with one hind leg. For myself, on perhaps the best 

 fencer in his lordship's stud, only this — I was booked by the wjD-mail 

 for the next day, and having been well dosed with calomel, I thought it 

 probable, that a souse over head and ears, in this black brook, might 

 have been the means of sending me father road. 



We had, as was generally the case, the addition of two or three gentle- 

 men to our dinner party this evening, and at about an hour after midnight 

 they departed to their several homes. " Now, Nimrod," said his lord- 

 ship, when we were left by ourselves, in the drawing-room, *' we will 



3 H 



