COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 65 



ing with Fred Isaac. They were engaged to dine 

 out, and so were anxious to get home. There was 

 a short way to the barracks across the park, and an 

 iron-bound gate which was kept locked, but a man 

 was usually there with a key. This time he was not 

 there, and as they were in a hurry Madocks says, 

 " I key, will you have a shy at it ? " He said, " All 

 right, go on ". Madocks rode at the gate, his horse 

 caught it with his knees and turned right over, falling 

 with his hip bone on the middle of Madocks's back. 

 It was just opposite the " Admiral Warren " public- 

 house, and some people came to his assistance and 

 got a door to lay him on. Isaac galloped away for 

 the doctor. By this time Captain Little had arrived, 

 and Madocks said to him, " It's all up with me, 

 Corporal ". He answered, " Not a bit, my boy, 

 you're worth a dozen dead ones ". He was carried 

 into barracks, and it was found that his os coccyx, 

 the lowest bone of the spine, was fractured. If it 

 had been an inch higher it would have been fatal. 

 He was laid up many weeks, and could only move 

 his shoulders by lifting himself by a rope fixed to two 

 crossed lances. But eventually he got quite well. 

 During this season we hunted with the Marquis of 

 Hastings, who then had the Donnington country. 

 Will Head was his huntsman ; Jack Ransom first 

 whip. The Marquis was a very charming man, and 

 very hospitable to us. Old Jack Masters had the 

 South Notts. Markwell was his kennel huntsman. 

 We often hunted with him. 



One day I was out with the Belvoir when Lord 

 VOL. i. 5 



