38 THE HOESE AND HIS EIDER. 



whipcord to his lash, while following his hounds at a 

 slapping pace, down hill, his reins lying nearly loose 

 on old " Gadsby's " neck. 



On the othe^iand when a gentleman, however fearless 

 he may be, sitting at an angle of 45°, like a 13-inch 

 mortar on its bed, attempts to ride down the steep 

 declivity described, the afflictions that befall him are 

 really piteous, for the instant his horse's fore legs sink 

 considerably lower than the hind ones, he feels that unless 

 he holds on very tightly, he must inevitably pitch over 

 the bows of the vessel that is carrying him. To main- 

 tain his equilibrium he therefore pulls a little at his curb- 

 bit, which not only raises his horse's head till it nearly 

 touches his nose, but throws the animal and the weight 

 he carries into such a false position, that it becomes diffi- 

 cult and dangerous to advance. The restrained quad- 

 ruped, impatient to follow the horses before him, yet 

 altogether out of gear, on every little twitch at his bridle 

 keeps chucking up his head, until the rider, who a 

 moment ago expected to fall over his ears, now feels that 

 he is going to glide backwards over his tail, which is 

 nearly touching the hill. In short, the poor horse is 

 restirig on his hocks instead of his hoofs, with his fore 

 feet barely touching the ground. 



When a lot of riders find themselves in this hopeless 

 attitude, they generally, according to their amount of 



