Gentlemen Riders 



about twelve miles — home ; devoutly hoping that I should 

 see nothing more of the hounds, and above all things, nothing 

 of the master, Charles Morris, who was hunting them. I had 

 not walked more than a mile towards Shrewsbury, however, 

 when I met him and his hounds — face to face ; and, as I saw 

 there was no mask on the whip's saddle, I concluded that 

 I should be accused of riding them off the line. 



My conclusions were well founded, for Charles Morris — 

 and a right good fellow he was — began to upbraid me for 

 inexplicable conduct, "and added that I was the last person 

 in the world that he thought would have spoiled the day's 

 sport in the way I had ; that he always looked on me as a 

 good sportsman, and a good deal more to the same effect. 



When I pleaded that I had no control over my horse, he 

 naturally asked — 



" Why in the world did you bring her out with my 

 hounds ? " 



This question revealed to me my opportunity ; so I replied, 

 " I will never bring the mare out with your hounds again — if 

 you will give me a hunter's certificate for her." 



" I will give you a dozen, if you will promise never to 

 bring the brute out again," was the angry promise I received ; 

 and, while the iron was hot, I thought it well to strike it ; 

 so I had a certificate signed before the week was out. 



I shall never forget my walk home in a pair of tight top- 

 boots ; rendered doubly painful by the mare boring across 

 me and occasionally striking my right boot in her eagerness 

 to mend the pace. 



But, except when the pain was severe, I was supremely 

 happy in the thought that I had been entertaining an angel 

 unawares, and that I had a steeplechaser at last, worthy of 

 the name. 



152 



