7G REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN. 



in my line with a huge recl-breeched footman stand- 

 ing at it, on London west-end legs, looking like a 

 bumble bee, all red behind, I called to him to open 

 the gate, and, as I neared it, received the reply " that 

 he'd be d — d if he did." We had no time for delay, 

 so I shouted to Lyster to charge the live quick hedge, 

 amounting to a " bull-finch " as previous experience 

 had taught me, and " to put in plenty of powder." 

 Lyster went straight at and through the hedge, 

 Avhich closed behind him again, like a harlequin, and 

 landed in a narrow green lane. I had to turn Jack 

 for a run at it, and, from the turn of the hounds, 

 though over last, chance put me first, and we both 

 had to go down the lane and pass the surly footman 

 or coachman whichever he was. As I neared him, 

 going then at a trot, I told him I would report his in- 

 solence to his master whosoever he mis^ht be. " Will 

 you?" cried the fellow, " then you shall see him now," 

 and, seizing Jack by the curb-bridle, he pulled him up 

 in spite of me. A blow from the double thong over 

 his arm only had the effect of making him seize my 

 foot, and, holding the bridle locked in his elbow, he 

 endeavoured to throw me off the horse. To cant a 

 man out of a saddle, if you get him by the foot and 

 hioio how to do it, is not very difficult : this fellow 

 might have seen it done, but was not aware of the 

 dodge to meet it. My leg I abandoned to him, taking 

 care not to stiffen my knee, while at the same time 

 drawing the double thong to the crop of the wdiip 

 very tight, I set to work on his of course undefended 

 head, on which he had neither hat nor cap but a 

 good deal of powder. A fog of powder soon arose, 

 the colour of his hair became manifest, and of course 

 he got a broken pate. He held on to my leg like a 



