146 THE COMPLETE FOXHUNTER 



knew a Colonial who was extremely anxious to see a 

 little English foxhunting. He was a superb horseman, 

 but had no idea how hunting was conducted in this 

 country. He bought a couple of horses from a dealer 

 on his own judgment, and good, honest horses they 

 were, though they had not been taught to jump a wire 

 fence. He also procured some quiet hunting clothes 

 and good saddlery, and took himself and his horses 

 down to a well-known hunting town on the outer 

 fringe of the Midlands. 



As it happened he came in for a succession of good 

 things, for he hit upon a fortnight of wonderful scenting 

 weather. He got about three days out of each of his 

 nags — it was in the middle of the season, and they were 

 in hard condition when he bought them — and then he 

 felt that he had discovered his mission in life, and in a 

 week or two he had added three or four fresh horses to 

 his string. He then went at it again, but the sport 

 had changed, and about three weeks of poor days sent 

 his spirits down to zero. Neither did he seem to under- 

 stand that all foxhunting was unequal and uncertain, 

 and this was entirely the result of his having been so 

 greatly favoured at first. He disposed of his stud (at 

 a loss) and, as far as we know, has never hunted 

 since. 



