THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 179 



answering our " would he were present," like Banquo's 

 ghost, all over blood ; chuckhng with delight, that this 

 check has let him in for the rest of the fun. Some 

 others will be indebted to the ploughs for their share. 

 Oh! oh! such a pun deserves to be smothered in the 

 next ditch ; but there is no time for a laugh, if we could 

 get one up for it; for there they go again, as if the 

 devil was in 'em. Don't cross me ; I'm for the stile, and 

 my horse rushes so, I can't hold him. — Ha ! ha ! he don't 

 want much holding now, but fire away, there's lots of 

 room at the fence ; only you can't quite see what's on 

 the other side, where I mean to be in a moment, please 

 the Picts and old Pantaloon Yoi ! over we go ; all on 

 the best horses that ever were crossed ; none of them in 

 the least distressed ; pity that they should some of them 

 differ in their own view of the case. Good heavens ! 

 what a pace ! no fox can stand this ten minutes longer ; 

 die he must, if he stays above ground : — he has lately 

 passed those sheep : — see how they remain all huddled 

 in the corner. Into the park, by Jove. Yoi ! over the 

 palings ; ride, Jem, and pull one down, to let some of 

 them through, if you can; they are topping them by 

 sections, and will be all over without help. Some two 

 or three horses get over with a scramble ; but there is a 

 lodge, not a hundred yards below : now look at 'em, all 

 through the herd of deer ; confound your halloos ; hold 

 your tongues, for heaven's sake, hold your tongues ; " they 



