ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 53 



Biding over this rough ground, it was requisite to have a 

 horse strongly bitted and thoroughly in hand, at the same 

 time giving him his head sufficiently to enable him to pick 

 his way over bad ground. I was one day riding a valuable 

 horse, which, having been raced, had become almost a run- 

 away. Finding that he pulled less with a plain snaffle than 

 any other bit, I foolishly rode him in one on this afternoon. 

 I was accompanied by two friends, and we were soon after a 

 fine fox. Before we had gone 100 yards I felt that the horse 

 was away with me, and, as we were on smooth ground, I 

 determined to keep him on it till I could manage him. Bear- 

 ing heavily on one rein, I kept him going in a large circle 

 till I succeeded in stopping him. By this time my friends, 

 with the dogs and fox, had crossed some low ground, over 

 which I had to follow, and no sooner did I attempt to increase 

 the pace than my horse again bolted. 



The hollow was full of huge holes many yards in width, 

 formed by the action of water in the rainy season, and one 

 of these coming in our line, I only escaped a smash by a 

 desperate wrench of the rein, whereby we were enabled to 

 clear the corner of the pit. When I rejoined my friends I 

 found they had lost the fox among some bushes, and shortly 

 after we again moved on. Finding a hare, my horse bolted 

 for the third time ; but, as the ground was clear, and he was 

 going in the right direction, I did not much care. 



I was far ahead of my companions, and going at racing 

 speed, when my steed fell as if shot through the head. I 

 suppose he must have crossed his legs, for I could see nothing 

 to throw him. I was sent flying about ten yards over his head, 

 and came down on the hard sun-baked ground with a force 

 which would require to be felt to be fully appreciated. I was 

 badly bruised, but managed to pick myself up and return to 



