64 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN 



the big youth able Heaven save the mark ! I was about to use 

 the words of action, and say able " to punch his head ; " but I 

 have been so condemned for using that phrase in a pamphlet on 

 the administration of the Game Laws and combat with a restive 

 game-stealer, that I dare not use it again able, then, to return 

 him to his cottage so disfigured that his mamma would refuse 

 him admittance, there was not one Eton boy but seemed right 

 willing to lend me a hand. What might have been the character 

 the fray had then assumed I do not know, but at that instant 

 the field of red-coats, as well as the " tawny " aids, came galloping 

 up from the bridge, to which they had ridden, and every one of 

 the bargemen then changed their tactics, and pretended to 

 defend the deer. The deer-cart then came up, the run having 

 been a ring, and its funny old driver John Baldwin in his tawny 

 coat soon took the stag in charge, dreadfully torn by the barge- 

 men's dogs, and, as it proved on subsequent examination, with a 

 fore-leg a compound fracture. 



My horse having been brought round, we were proceeding 

 quietly home with the hounds, when in rather a solitary place, 

 under the Home Park wall, near Datchet, I observed the deer- 

 cart pulled up, and old John Baldwin standing on the top of it, 

 making signs for me " to come on." I was very angry at this 

 unusual sight, for the strict orders were never to bring the 

 deer-cart within sight or wind of the hounds after the day was 

 over, as it only unsettled them ; I therefore beckoned Baldwin 

 to proceed. The sign was useless; an order which I shouted 

 had no more effect ; instead of quitting the roof of his cart and 

 resuming the road, to my rage as well as astonishment, John 

 commenced a sort of war-dance on the top of it, waving his cap 

 and flourishing his pig-whip as a painted barbarian might be 

 supposed to do his club, his signs for me to " come on " being 

 still more energetic. John lived, and I believe still lives, on 

 beer and gin, and I began to think he was drunk ; but on 

 coming nearer I heard a voice of supplication from within the 

 cart, accompanied occasionally by a strange rumbling bolting 

 sound, which often cut short the man's imploring voice ; it was 



