THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 121 



very possibly effect his restoration, so that he may carry 

 you well through the rest of the day. Slacken his 

 girths, give him all the air you can, and do not move 

 him during the crisis, while his flanks and nostrils beat 

 the time which he requires. If you apprehend that 

 he is shaken by a fall, or the cry 'of bellows to mend 

 is more importunate, he must be bled at once ; and, 

 unless you have a second horse out, you must turn 

 homeward. It is bad policy to run the risk of losing 

 many days for the sake of one. " We cannot have our 

 cake, and eat it too :" but I have said enough on this 

 subject in my last chapter. To proceed -with my advice 

 to young riders to hounds. Considering that without 

 falls, and plenty of them, it is not likely that many 

 will attain any degree of proficiency — it will be well 

 to bear in mind that, although they must entertain 

 a thorough contempt for the fear of a fall, a total 

 disregard of the chances of such accidents — it does 

 not follow that they are to be utterly careless of the 

 consequences when they do occur. It is all right and 

 proper, to be " up, on, and at it again," if no bones are 

 broken, as soon as possible; they should be hard as 

 nails, and, so far from giving in to disasters, should never 

 say done, or yield to ill-luck while they can grapple 

 with it.* But all this heroism may be strained too far, 



* One of the most gallant instances of this resolution superior to misfortune, 

 is that feat of Mr. Osbaldeston's, which will not easily be surpassed. I do not 



