HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 129 



height, which was six feet two inches ; and being 

 seen to smile, he was told that it was impossible for 

 a horse to jump it, neither was it necessary, as there 

 were doors in different places. He said nothing 

 then, but bore it in mind. It happened, however, 

 in the second year of his mastership, the fox led the 

 hounds through this park, and they followed through 

 the holes left at the bottom of the wall for game 

 to pass through. The horsemen made for a door, 

 but found it locked. Mr. Smith, who was mounted 

 on the General, rode at the wall ; but the horse ran 

 his head up to it and then stopped short. He was 

 then taken back about forty yards, and again put at 

 it, and being well spurred, accompanied with a touch 

 of the whip on the shoulder, he sprang over, to the 

 surprise, and, indeed, horror, of the whole field, who 

 thought it an act of madness. On reaching the 

 ground the horse's forefeet gave way, and he came 

 down on his chest, the rider's feet being dashed on 

 the ground in a way that gave an awful shock; but 

 the horse rose with him on his back, and he kept his 

 seat for a short time, but long enough to allow him 

 to stop the hounds. The men in the meantime had 

 forced the door ; when they reached him he was un- 

 conscious, but they held him on his horse till he got 

 home, when he was bled and carried insensible to 

 bed. In three weeks he was again in the saddle. 

 This was certainly a most remarkable leap ; but Mr. 

 Smith was afterwards far from being proud of it, and 



K 



