yox-uLNTiNo.] rOK MOUNTAIN, FIELD, AInD FAEM. [iox-uunmng. 



see the foremost horso disappear up to his narrow place was Orat tried, and all four lioraeB 

 i,MrtIis in II treacheroua poat-boi^. On wo go, 'pot over, but not without a Hcrainblo on laud- 

 loaviiiii; our unfortunato Iriond to extricate ing. Tho umpire decided that (jribs(ju liad 

 himself as ho best can, and pick our way | won with all four, bein;,' £oO eacli iiursc. The 

 carelully among the boulders, which become j wide place (Mr. Campbell's "yawner") was 

 rather too plentiful to allow easy galloping, then attempted with a grey horse — as noble u 

 We now see "The Kocks"— a huge volcanic looking animal as ever gazed through bridle, 

 pile, heaped into fantastic shapes — looming in 

 the distance, and Keynard is perceived a little 

 way ahead, gallantly struggling to reach his 

 city of refuge. 



The chase now becomes vcrv exciting ; the 



With a mass of people facing him on the other 

 side of tho river, ho gallantly charged it, but 

 fell on the edge of tho water, thereby losing 

 the first £50. Had the hounds been iu full 

 cry, and notiiing to face him, periiajis he would 



hounds are coursing the fox; but he is within have accom[)lislied tho feat. It was, however, 

 two hundred yards of the rocks ; and, if he |a great task to undertake, oq the part of the 



can but struggle on for a few seconds more, 

 will be safe. However, he is doomed; 

 '• Crafty" rolls him over ; the rest of the pack 

 rush in ; and so dies the poor fox. Only three 

 horsemen are in at the death ; but, by the 

 time the animal is broken up, the friends wc 

 left iu the dingle arrive ; and, after a little 

 chaffing, we turu our horses' heads homewards, 

 and agree that forty-five minutes in AVales is 

 uot bad sport after all. 



In i'ox-hunting there are frequently taken, 

 by man and horse, leaps which, in moments of 

 less excitement, would literally appal them. 

 On one occasion, Mr. Alex. Campbell, of Mon- 

 zies, when hunting with Mr. Baker's hounds, 

 cleared, on one of his favourite horses ("De- 

 ceiver"), the river Leam, being nine yards and 

 six inches across. Not one of the " field" at- 

 tempted this daring "fly;" but Mr. Haigh tried 

 it in a much narrower place, and succeeded in 



nags, in cold blood. The two next horses were 

 not put to it. The fourth, however, was sent 

 at it in gallant style, but unfortunately jumped 

 into the middle of tho water. They were all 

 ridden by one man, who appeared to weigh 

 about 9st. ; and, considering that he received a 

 ducking on each occasion, he rode with great 

 spirit and determination. He did not, however, 

 appear to handle his horses as a first-rate artist 

 — he seemed " at sea" on one or two occasions 

 with his hands ; but a finer seat on horseback 

 could hardly be seen. The match, therefore, 

 ended thus : — Mr. Gibson's horses won over the 

 narrow place, and lost over the wide part: 

 and Mr. Campbell's feat still remains unsur- 

 passed. 



The patronage which the chase receives ia 

 England is universal. The peer and the 

 plough-boy alike participate in its exhilarating 

 scenes ; and even the senator, who sways the 



landing himself and horse on the right side, destinies of the kingdom, may occasionally be 

 Mr. Cambbell's remarkable leap caused not a found in the field. The late Lord Palmerston 

 little commotion in the hunting world ; and a was a great friend to the sport, and not un- 



gentleman, named Gibson, backed five of his 

 horses for £50 each to clear both places of 

 the Leam — viz., at the spot whicli was taken by 

 Mr. Campbell, and that taken by Mr. Haigh. 

 These horses, however, were then announced 

 for sale at Tattersali's ; and the match had 

 to be made conditionally, that if *.hey were 

 not sold above the reserve price, the match 

 should stand good ; and if sold, to be no match. 

 As only one of them was sold, the event stood 

 good with four of the horses ; and, after a con- 

 siderable amount of " beating about the bush,' 



frequently, even when premier, might be I'ound 

 joining one of the "meets" in Hampshire, 

 although he had passed the threescore and 

 ten assigned as the period of man's allotted 

 existence in this sublunary world. It is uot 

 many years ago, since, at Farley church, he 

 met the Hursley houndt which were thrown 

 into Parnell AVood. In l^ts than five miuutes 

 a hound challenged (which summons the 

 huntsman said could not bo a mistake). Im- 

 mediately a view-halloo was given ; one ring 

 round the cover, and away they went at a 



it came ofi'near Granborough— Mr. Martin, of slapping pace over the open, through Mitchel- 



llugby, being the acceptor of the challenge, marsh, nearly down to the "Dog and Crook." 



Captain Heury Lowndes was umpire. The There he turned to the left, the (joiny hounds 

 3h 417 



