^^ I BLEED, SIR, BUT AM NOT KILLED/^ 35 



lucky, if, while doing this, they do not get a 

 second remembrance of there being others behind; 

 in such a case the author of the second shock 

 would inwardly ejaculate, "Why did not the fool 

 lie still, and I should have cleared him/^ If, 

 phoenix-like, rider and horse rise, not from the 

 ashes but the soil, unhurt, and get again to the 

 hounds, in meeting either of their more fortunate 

 rivals, " I trust you were not hurt '' is ample 

 apology for such trifling occurrences. 



If we accidentally tread on a man's stick or 

 umbrella in the streets, common courtesy demands 

 our picking it up and handing it to its owner 

 with an apology; but assisting a man and horse 

 out of a ditch would be such slow work, that in 

 any aristocratic country an excuse for not doing 

 so is held quite unnecessary. "Now let every 

 one take care of himself," as the ox said when he 

 began dancing among the frogs, is fully carried 

 out in fast countries when men begin to ride : 

 even the hounds know this; and to save himself, 

 if he unfortunately gets among a crowd of horse- 

 men in chase, I will back a Leicestershire hound 

 against any dog living : one accustomed to the 

 crowded part of London would be a fool to him, 

 no hare can double, dodge, and avoid a greyhound 

 at her haunches quicker than will a hound, that 

 has had a season or two, a horse. 



Aristocratic and exclusive as in a general way 



D 2 



