258 iRiDino IRecoUections an& Uurf Stones 



hunting himself. On one occasion we had done 

 nothing at all in the early part of the day, there 

 being a very large field out, and foxes were headed 

 in every direction. In the afternoon we had a 

 real fast gallop of five-and-twenty minutes from 

 Cream Gorse over a good big country. ' Patience ' 

 carried me wonderfully well. I saw the Colonel the 

 same week, as I had to go to Liverpool Races, 

 and met him on the course. He began talking 

 about hunting, and I told him how well his horse 

 had carried me. He said : 



" Yes, Custance ; I have heard how well you 

 went on ' Patience,' and also that the black 

 mare carried your sandwiches for luncheon all 

 right." 



He was, of course, only chaffing, but he knew I pre- 

 ferred riding ' Patience ' to ' Black Pearl,' the mare 

 sent out for me to ride second horse. As we had done 

 nothing in the morning, I kept on the horse until 

 we had the good gallop, and I admit the Colonel 

 was right ; I enjoyed myself much more on him 

 than I should have done on the mare, as she was 

 anything but a good hunter, and one of the animals 

 poor Fred Archer detested. She gave him two or 

 three falls, althouQ-h she had the credit of beinor an 

 extraordinary performer when Colonel Forester 



