152 AXX.-1LS OF THE ROAD. 



of the 7th Dragoon Guards, himself an excellent 

 dragsman, relative to that well-known sportsman, 

 novelist, and poet, Major Whyte Melville, a martyr to 

 the noble science. The Major found himself one day 

 without a horse to ride, and the hounds were about to 

 meet at a fixture well known as a sure find. Turning 

 the stable affairs over in his mind, he suddenly bethought 

 himself of one of Mrs. Whyte Melville's carriage horses, 

 as a horse that he remembered being told, on buying him 

 some years before, 'had been hunted.' He made up his 

 mind at once, telling Mrs. Whyte Melville of his intention, 

 adding, ' you can see as much of the hounds with shafts 

 as with pole.' The day arrived and the Major appeared 

 on the 'off horse's' partner. A fox was soon afoot and 

 the Major's heart was charmed on discovering the ease 

 with which the 'coach 'oss' negociated his first and second 

 fences, allowing him to put himself in his accustomed 

 place alongside of the pack. A burning scent and on 

 they go, another fence or two, not quite so happy, a bit of 

 a 'peck,' occasioned no doubt by the absence of the collar; 

 when in the distance the — to a man who is not quite sure 

 of his mount — ominous line of willow trees, indicating 

 water, is seen. Giving up all hopes of further progress, 

 the Major lets go the machiner's head ; but as suddenly 

 pulls himself and his steed together again, for through 

 his mind flashes this happy thought (a true case of 

 'welcome little stranger') — 'Machiner' was one of a 

 pair that were in the habit of taking Mrs. Whyte Melville 

 to the Opera House. Moreover ' Machiner' was a highly 

 nervous animal, and the Major had observed that on 



