THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 39 



was, and said to myself, ' What could have possessed me to 

 ride Brilliant to-day, when I have nine seasoned hunters, 

 all sound, in my stable, and every one fit to go ; and 

 Griffiths, my groom, told me I had better not ? ' ' I'll go 

 home,' I said ; but, confound it, at that very moment, 

 Champion and Statesman hit off the scent ; Meynell took 

 off his cap, and gave a scream ; and what could I do 1 

 What would you have done ? The young thorough-bred 

 one had recovered his wind ; and, as he shook his head 

 less, and played cheerfully with his bit, I hoped he was in 

 less pain. He was carrying me magnificently not more 

 than a dozen of us with the hounds ; a splendid country 

 before us I took the lead again." (Here Frank heaved 

 another sigh, and became restless.) 



"I shall never forget," continued Mr. Somerby, "the 

 third fence we now came to, which was out of the next 

 field but one to Shankton Holt cover. It was not a double 

 but a treble. It was of this description ; thank Heaven ! 

 there are not more than three or four of such in most 

 runs ; first, a ditch ; then a rail ; then another ditch ; 

 and then another rail. You see there is no landing for a 

 horse, if he takes fences of this sort at twice, except on 

 the first rail, or in the second ditch ; but the old ones 

 irill double them, when very well handled by their 

 riders. 



" Now the wind was well in Brilliant, and I had found 

 he would face anything ; but I doubted his being up to 

 this queer double, or ' treble,' as I have called it. I sent 

 him at it, then, at the rate of twenty miles an hour, 

 thinking to take it all at a fly ; but far as the clever 

 young horse flung himself, he could not clear the whole. 

 He alighted with one fore-leg over, and the other under, 

 the outermost rail, and gave me a thundering fall. ' It's 

 unfortunate,' said I to myself, glancing my eye at the 

 fence, as I arose from the ground ; ' if I had known that 

 that middle rail had been so weak, we would have gone 

 ' in and out clever,' as Cholmondeley says ; ' at least, we 

 should have got over with a scramble. I am out of luck 

 to-day,' added I ; ' but here goes again,' and soon jumped 

 into my saddle. 



" The hounds having turned towards me a little, I was 

 very soon in my place again. 'What now?' said one. 

 ' Disasters come thickly this morning,' cried another. 

 'All right again,' replied I ; 'take care of yourselves, for 



