400 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN, 



I at once broke through the bushes, and made up to 

 the man. He was still among the grass, and in length 

 of limb was a biggish lookmg fellow, and acting under 

 the first impression of insolence, I was about to lay 

 my hand on his collar, with the words, "Get up, and 

 go you must," when I was arrested, by a voice, cer- 

 tainly a little hoarse, but which in tones of obedience 

 said, " Very well, sir." I stood stock still, there was 

 a melancholy expression in his voice, he looked very 

 much jaded and worn, and as in obedience to my 

 order he prepared to rise, I saAV him adjusting an old 

 shoe and tattered bandage on a terribly lame foot. 

 His whole bearing was so different from what I had 

 been led to expect, that the tone of severity in which 

 I had spoken to him in the first instance seemed to 

 recoil upon me as a heartless rudeness, so I put my 

 hand gently on his shoulder, and said, " No, my friend, 

 sit down, you don't seem well." The change in my 

 voice and manner I suppose was too much for him, 

 for he refrained from attempting to rise, and burst 

 into tears like a child. It was a good deal too much 

 for me, and made me a child too; so to divert the 

 feeling, I called out loudly for my underman Mr. Cox, 

 but who did not or would not hear me, therefore I 

 bade my poor friend sit still till I came back ; indeed 

 I was glad to get away, to become a man, as they 

 say, once more. Getting home as fast as I could, 

 I obtained some nice bread and meat, and filled a 

 soda water bottle with beer, and went back to the 

 gravel pit. I sat down by the poor fellow, and spread 

 out the viands, in the hope of seeing him fare re- 

 joicingly ; he tried to eat to oblige me, but at last 

 fairly said he had no appetite, and would sooner keep 

 the food by him as well as the beer, out of which he 



