44 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



refused ; I put him at it again, and I thought he was 

 going to take it ; but he had not the power to rise, and, 

 swerving a little to the left, he ran his head into the 

 hedge, and floundered on his knees on the bank. I jumped 

 off him immediately, and thanked him for not giving me 

 a fall. Now what a situation was I in ! I could still see 

 the hounds, and the five men going by their side. But I 

 could only see them ; I could no longer be with them. 

 Like King Richard, at Bosworth, what would I not have 

 given for a horse ! 



" The sequel is now to come. The fox was killed about 

 three miles farther on, after one of the finest and severest 

 chases recorded, even in Leicestershire. But in what 

 condition were myself and my horse ? As for me, I was 

 bruised and sore, and had dislocated by right thumb ; I 

 had also left my whip and a slice of my breeches in the 

 bulfinch ; but these were only trifles. I trembled for the 

 fate of the five-year-old, and could not bear the sight of 

 his wound. I looked for a village and could see none.; 

 but I saw the house of a Leicestershire grazier, and that 

 was enough for me at the moment. I led Brilliant to his 

 stable, and his hack conveyed me to Meltoii. 



" ' Richards,' said I to my groom and no man has a 

 better ' send a helper off with this hack directly, and 

 put yourself into the gig, without loss of time, Avith every- 

 thing necessary for a tired and maimed horse, and leave 

 him not till he is recovered ; that is to say (for I had my 

 fears), if he does recover. It was contrary to your advice 

 that I rode Brilliant to-day ; and, unfortunately for him, 

 it has been the hardest run we have had the last three 

 years.' 



" ' It is a pity you rode him, sir,' replied Richards, 

 1 whilst you had so many other horses quite fit to go. I 

 think he will make the best hunter in your stable in an- 

 other year or two. But where shall I find him, sir? ' 'At 

 Mr. King's, near Hungerton,' was my reply. ' He has 

 turned one of his own horses out of his best loose box on 

 purpose to make Brilliant comfortable.' 'And where is he 

 cut, sir? ' asked the anxious groom ; ' is it a bad over- 

 reach, or have you staked him ? ' 'I have done neither,' 

 I said ; ' get to him as quickly as you can, and you will 

 see.' 



" I dined that evening at the old club in Melton, where 

 there was a very pleasant party ; and went afterwards to 



