THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 73 



or shed, for most important purposes, it would have 

 made just all the difference. 



Patience, gentle reader, do not cry, " Hold hard ; we 

 all know enough, and you have said more than enough, 

 about this gruelling system." Truly you do all know 

 enough about gruelling your horses, in one common ac- 

 ceptation of the phrase ; but, if you do know enough, you 

 do not practise enough of the care which extends beyond 

 the day, — that day fraught with exhilaration and excite- 

 ment sufficient to quell thought for the future. You may 

 find, however, that not only sufficient for that day, but for 

 the rest of the season, may be the evil thereof. You are 

 too apt, especially if you have had your own mouthful, and 

 lit your cigar, to arm yourself with the sophistry that the 

 sooner you get your horse to his own stable — (videlicet, 

 yourself to your own fireside) — the better ; and if you 

 do take a glass of cherry bounce, in passing some friendly 

 domicile, it is useless delay to dismount. Commend me 

 to the man who, on being offered refreshment for himself, 

 accepts it only in favour of his horse, and snatches his 

 own crust and " go down" in the intervals of five minutes' 

 attendance upon the animal which has borne him, and 

 will repay his attention by bearing him again well 

 through the toils and pleasures of many a day. He 

 who would betake himself to the road-side public, or 

 farm-house, and there regale within, while his horse is 

 shivering without, deserves never to hunt again ; but 

 there are few, very few, and none deserving the name of 

 generous sportsmen, capable of such insensibility towards 



