Ubc Matei'loo IRun 271 



lived at Oxenden, told me he measured one place on 

 his farm — it was an "oxer" — that my mare jumped, 

 and it was thirty-three feet from her taking off to 

 landing. I don't vouch for this myself, but he told 

 me the tale many a time afterwards, and repeated it 

 to me not lonaf before his death. 



After we left Bowden Inn the pace was not so 

 great. Colonel (now General) Fraser and Captain 

 (afterwards Colonel) White, who had both been 

 going wonderfully well, had time to stop and change 

 horses, as, by the greatest piece of luck for them, we 

 passed their stables. The hounds kept still travel- 

 ling slowly on until we came to the Langton Brook, 

 which had very recently been cleaned out, so that it 

 was rather awkward on takinsf off as well as landing;, 

 the dirt being thrown out at least a yard on each 

 side. I saw Mr. Langham ride down at it. His 

 horse dwelt a bit, and he jumped in and out very 

 cleverly. Nearly everyone thought by this it was a 

 good sound bottom, and many a ducking his example 

 caused. I knew I had only one chance with my hot- 

 headed mare, so caught hold of her head and sent 

 her at it. She took off quite clear of the dirt, and 

 landed more than a yard on the other side — not a 

 bad performance for one who had carried me for 

 fifty minutes over the biggest and best country I ever 



