114 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



the time wliicli 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 

 wdll attain any degree of proficiency — it will be well 

 to bear in mind that, although tliey must entertain 

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

 disrerrard 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. 

 A man need not close his ears to the voice of prudence, 

 and, if seriously shaken or disabled, should make decorous 



* One of the most gallant instances of this resolution superior to mis- 

 fortune, is that feat of Mr. Osbaldiston's, which -will not easily be sur- 

 passed. T do not allude to his match against time, but to something far 

 more to our purpose. Both girths having broken in the beginning of a 

 good run, rather than lose his place, he threw the saddle from him, and 

 rode, in his usual form, to the end, upon the bare back. To any but a 

 perfect centaur, such a ride is not so feasible as may be supposed by 

 those who have not tried it.— " Experto crede," 



