62 THE LIFE OF A HUNTER 



once in a run charging a bullfinch, which 

 had on the far side a strong high post and 

 rails, some nine feet from the fence. I 

 knew I should have to make some sort of a 

 try. It was too high to jump, there was no 

 room, and I was not heavy enough to break 

 it, so I just reared up, got my fore-end well 

 over, and trailed my hind-legs after me, only 

 leaving a few hairs on the top rail. After 

 that, my owner always said that I could go 

 anywhere where a man could get. 



In 1880, both my master and I considered 

 our education complete, and with all the 

 confidence of youth believed that no one 

 could teach us anything. After twenty 

 years, however, I expect we are both in- 

 clined to think that at the end of the longest 

 life we can only hope to know a little of the 



