154 FOX-HUNTING 



competitor. I think that the disrespect I 

 showed to Mr. Codling's hat rather increased 

 in the end the friendly relationship between 

 him and myself. It formed a fresh link in 

 our hunting association, and he was far too 

 keen a sportsman himself not to forgive an 

 excess of zeal on the part of another, even 

 when it had gone the length of nearly 

 putting him in after his hat. 



