HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 131 



choicer exclamations. Luckily the horse cleared the 

 next hedge and ditch, which some of the fellows rode 

 at, but only to fall head over heels. Mr. Smith rode 

 off, laughing at them floundering in the mud, cleared 

 the next fence into the road near Staines, and stopped 

 at the inn to refresh both himself and his horse. 

 Soon after the ostler came to say that the horse was 

 very lame. Mr. Smith went to the stable, and then 

 sent for a farrier, who pronounced the horse unsound, 

 and pointed out the marks of its having been lately 

 blistered on the lame leg. Mr. Smith sent the 

 horse back to the dealer, stopped the cheque (which 

 was dated forward) at the bank, and heard no more 

 of the matter.' 



Another worthy of the hunting - field, who 

 flourished in the first half of the present century, 

 was Squire Chute, who for many years hunted the 

 Vine hounds. c Nimrod ' and other sporting authors 

 have recorded some of the sayings and doing of this 

 hunting hero. 



' I remember the first day I was out with him 

 (Squire Chute). "We are going cub-hunting to- 

 morrow," said he to me ; "will you come ? " "Thank 

 ye," said I ; " I am not very fond of cub-hunting in 

 September ; it is only a pastime for you masters of 

 hounds. Bushing through wet nut-bushes without 

 seeing a hound, one's breeches all green, with leaves 

 sticking to the buttons, one's horse half-mad from 

 the flies, and the odds in favour of his being lamed, 



K 2 



