SCIENCE OF FOXHUXTIXG. 893 



lighting it from his matchbox^ replaced the latter in 

 his coat pocket, on which he unfortunately bumped 

 down in the saddle ; and being a bulky man, the 

 sudden and hea^y pressure caused the whole to 

 explode with a sharp crack, resembling that por- 

 tending the advent of a thunderstorm. There 

 being no fire-engine nearer at hand than that 

 belonging to the parish three miles off, and being 

 unprovided with Mr. Benham^s Extincteur (which 

 every smoker ought to carry on his back, in case of 

 a similar accident), our hunting friend sprang from 

 his saddle instanter, tearing off his coat with wild 

 and frantic gestures — and well was he justified iu 

 doing so, upon finding such a cracker attached to 

 his tail. We presume many of our readers may 

 have seen or heard of unfortunate dogs placed in 

 this uncomfortable dilemma by mischievous urchins. 

 The agricultural Anak cast but one look at this fire- 

 eater springing from his horse, not a long linger- 

 ing look behind, but believing his adversary's 

 intentions to be, from tearing ofi" his coat so hastily, 

 to challenge him there and then to a game of fives, 

 Anak fled incontinently and ignominiously from his 

 own field ; neither slackened he his speed until he 

 had reached his homestead, some half-a-mile distant, 

 wherein he bolted and barred himself from the anti- 

 cipated onslaught ; and we need scarcely remark 

 the exceeding merriment it caused to the whole 

 field. 



