108 THE HUNTING-FIELD. 



" at any rate." I steadied liim as well as liis moutli 

 would allow in going to tlie fence^ but on nearing 

 it lie gave another of liis mad rushes^ and I made 

 up my mind for a purl. Stopping liim was out of 

 tlie question; he took off many feet before lie 

 came to it, took it all in bis swing, but bit tlie 

 bank, or liedge, or something so hard with his 

 hind legs, that he all but came on his head on the 

 other side. I stopped him, and turning towards 

 home, I walked the gentleman up to a gate, dis- 

 mounted^ and ingloriously led him through, ditto 

 the hurdles, and coming up to my friend I de- 

 livered the Bricklayer into his hands, observing 

 that finding him so valuable an animal, I wished 

 to ease myself of the great responsibility of the 

 charge. 



My friend, who had at a distance seen what 

 had been going on, laughed most mischievously, 

 saying, " He seems a little wild, does he not, in 

 leaping ? " 



" It is a great pity,'^ said I, " that he was not 

 altogether so wild as never to have been tamed. 

 "Whether he may be good as a steeple-chaser or 

 not, it is impossible for me to say, though I cer- 

 tainly do venture to say he could last but for a 

 very short distance unless he wonderfully altered 

 his manners after going a bit ; however, allow me 

 to remind you, that when men ride such brutes 

 in a steeple-chase, they are well paid for it, and 



