150 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



the Hunt, while his hapless owner (barred by the hat of nine- 

 teenth-century custom from carrying the saddle in its only 

 proper position, viz. on his head) had to trip it o'er the 

 greensward with the pigskin and its shivered girths held in 

 front of him like a big drum. The question in my wandering 

 mind at once arose as to whether he, poor man, was worse off 

 under the circumstances than another fellow sportsman whose 

 misfortune I witnessed (and vainly endeavoured to assist) with 

 the Whaddon Chase some weeks ago. In this latter case the 

 dismounted horseman carried the bridle ! The steed thereupon 

 had everything his own way not excepting other people's turn 

 at the gaps (a distinction we all covet but attempt only to seize 

 according to our bringings-up). Which for choice ? There can 

 be little doubt as to the answer, though a saddle may weigh 

 fourteen pounds, and a double bridle can claim but two in the 

 scales. The barebacked horse may be caught in a single field ; 

 the bare-headed one ma}^ gallop to Jericho, Coventry, or to the 

 public nearest his own stable as fancy, knowledge of country, 

 or daily habit may suggest. In this case the loss of saddle was 

 fortunately at the cost of neither sport nor other inconvenience 

 beyond a short double in heavy-marching-order. But that to 

 be unexpectedly flung saddle-and-all is no pleasing joke I 

 happen to be able to testify most strongly. Last week's two 

 frosty days having forced me into the well-brushed sleekness 

 of a London hat, I went, after the manner of a fox-hunter who 

 is very busy indeed in town, to indulge in a dawdle at my 

 saddler's. His wooden horse carried his new patent saddle 

 to perfection ; but by some chance a similar saddle was im- 

 mediately afterwards put " on the wrong horse," to wit on a 

 saddler's stool. In happy and well-hatted ignorance I mounted 

 briskly making certain that in this instance at least the new 

 mount was surely entitled to the description of "sound and 

 quiet to ride." But (alas for dignity, safety, and self-command), 

 the saddle pommel alone was supported, the seat and its 

 occupant in a moment occupied inverse positions, the saddler 

 picked up the pieces (among others a crumpled hat), and our 



