Brcber in the fDuntino 3Ficl^ 125 



he was down. On one occasion Archer was riding 

 an old horse called 'Comet,' that he hated, but I 

 rather liked riding him. We found at John O'Gaunt 

 cover and ran round by Tilton, which is a big 

 country just there. Fred had two falls, the last 

 over an ox-fence. I caught the old horse and took 

 him back, but couldn't persuade Archer to mount 

 again, so I said : "Well, get on mine." This was a 

 little thoroughbred mare named ' Little Lady,' by 

 ' Gemma di Vergy,' which I afterwards sold to Lord 

 Alington. Archer mounted her ; we had a very good 

 run afterwards, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. 

 In the afternoon we went to draw Billesdon Coplow, 

 and, as I was twelve miles from Oakham, and he 

 had to go to Melton, in the opposite direction, I 

 proposed we should change horses again. I thought 

 my animal had done enough, so I said : "If the 

 hounds run my way, I shall go with them ; if not, I 

 shall go home." As it happened, they ran towards 

 Oakham. We got a good start, and I told Fred to 

 "loose 'Comet's' head and follow me." He did so 

 for a bit, when I jumped into a grass lane at the 

 top of Twyford village and out again. On looking 

 round for him, I saw two horses loose, and their 

 riders looking at each other. They were Mr. 

 Duncan, of Knossington, an old gentleman over 



