142 THE HUxNTlNG-riELD. 



but he liked bigger bone still, and more fiesli to 

 support it. ^I donH like/ said he, using ratlier 

 to me a new expression, 'these cuts and slashes/ 

 alluding to where the division of muscle on my 

 nags could be seen. 



" We w ent out next day and got a clipper. I 

 on a five year old horse, that I had bought at 

 Newmarket and made a hunter of. My little 

 advocate for bone and flesh went well, I modestly 

 playing second fiddle to him. Twenty minutes 

 was nearly over, not a hound stooping, and scarce 

 a note heard. I saw my little acquaintance had 

 plenty on his hands, both in regard to his horse's 

 head and also to keeping his place : we were now 

 on light ploughed ground, and the country open. 

 Now, said I to myself, for a little fair mischief. 

 My horse, that I had held quite within himself, 

 was only at his three-quarters speed. I laid hold 

 lightly of my curb-rein, got his nose in, and just 

 letting him feel the spurs, he went by my pilot 

 like an express train passing a luggage one. ' What 

 do you say to "the cuts and slashes " now ? ' said 

 I, as I passed him. I saw the heels go to work ; 

 that won't last long with bone and flesh, thought 

 I : luckily for him, just as I got over the crown of 

 the hill, the hounds ran into pug, and up came 

 my friend in a trot, as the huntsman, after a thrill- 

 ing ' whoo-whoop,' gave a ' Hallo ! tear him ! tear 



