112 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



in a line ; if he falls, you must be upon him. " For 

 heaven's sake, give me room to fall," is an exclamation 

 which I have often heard from a celebrated artist, who, 

 from the acknowledged excellence of his performance, 

 was generally followed by all aspirants, in a most unjus- 

 tifiable manner. Had Mr. Osbaldiston been allowed 

 room to fall, he would not have met with so terrible an 

 accident as that of being ridden over by the man behind 

 him, and experiencing a compound fracture of the leg. 

 Independently of his sufferings, there was his season 

 spoiled, with the chances much against ever enjoying 

 another. What can atone for the folly which occasions 

 such disasters ? Accidents will happen ; and it is fair to 

 suppose that the distress felt by the man who had been 

 the cause of such an occurrence, would have led him 

 to change places with the sufferer, if in his power ; but, 

 if a man choose to break his own neck, he has no right 

 to render others liable to injury by his own carelessness, 

 any more than he is justified in coming into a crowd, or 

 near the hounds, with a horse notorious as a kicker. At 

 banks, and brooks, the first horse has the best of it ; 

 and any fresh place is preferable to one which has been 

 used. If one man has succeeded in fording a river, or 

 getting out of boggy ground, the chances are more in 

 favour of the next, a few yards right or left, than where 

 there has been a struggle. In short, wherever there is 

 space for two, it is most unadvisable to follow, like 

 sheep, in the track of one. Whether hounds are run- 

 ning or not, never be led into the fatal error of leading 



