306 NIxMRODS HUNTING TOUR 



of some misunderstanding between the proprietor and a quondam 

 master of those hounds. Were this proceeding to become general 

 hunting countries would not be long kept entire, and great con- 

 fusion would be the result. 



We had no sport worth speaking of on this day ; indeed the scent 

 was very indifferent ; but the short run afforded me one anecdote, 

 perhaps worth relating. A fox w^ent away at last from Barnston 

 whin, taking a ring over a nasty wet country. I made the best of 

 my way over it, riding inside the hounds, till we came to some- 

 thing like a poser. It was a deep and boggy drain, with a black and 

 rotten bank to jump upon, and, as the Irishman said, " another river 

 on the other side." It was far from agreeable ; and the more we 

 looked, the less we liked it. A pause ensued. "The hounds are 

 turning to us," said I. "That admits of a doubt. Sir," said Mr. 

 Welbourne, a tenant of Sir Francis Boynton ; and gallantly charged 

 the fence. As I expected, the bank let his horse in up to his houghs, 

 and when I saw him, hoi'se and all, well landed in the second drain, 

 I thought it was my turn to say something ; so comforted him by 

 exclaiming, " That, Sir, admits of no doubt." I then put my horse 

 at a fresh place, but that "admitted of no doubt:" headlong we 

 went into the next field, and although little Shamrock did contrive 

 to throw me clear of the water, yet we both got up completely pie- 

 bald : the white blaze down his face was no longer visible ; and 

 when I looked at the cords and the boot-tops, I might have sung 

 with Ovid, — 



" Qui color albus erat ; nunc est contrarius albo." 



Two more of the field — all I believe who came our line — were also 

 floored at the same fence, and one of them was dragged a hundred 

 yards by his stirrup. His boot came off and released him from his 

 awful situation, or the consequence might have been dreadful. 



Of all fences, the most certain floorer is what is called a double, 

 with unsound ground between the two ditches or drains. The 

 impetus from the leap being added to the weight of the horse and 

 his rider, causes of course very considerable pressure from the 

 hoofs ; and if the ground is not able to resist it, all spring to 

 encounter the second difficulty is lost, and a fall is the result. 



