194 THE HUNTING-FIELD. 



ford persuasion ' to my liorse. Uattling right and 

 left, forward and backwards, fell the stones, and 

 the honest Galway crack landed me, really with 

 no great effort so far as I could feel, on the other 

 side. Over came my friend, a thirteen stone 

 man, on a much smaller horse than the one I was 

 riding. Being safe, I felt for the honour of my 

 country from the hesitation I had shown; but 

 excuse me, brother sportsman, it was my first day 

 in Galway — a situation of no small trial, as 

 better horsemen, and braver men by far, I trust 

 will allow. 



"This said wall not being more than a mile 

 from my friend's house, I privately measured next 

 day: from the spot from whence the horse's fore- 

 feet had risen to the top stone, taking a level from 

 those not displaced, was the v/idth of my hand 

 less than six feet ; this, I am quite sure, he had 

 cleared with his knees, but the chasm he had made 

 by some of his feet or legs had reduced it nearly a 

 foot. I never cared two-pence for a wall after- 

 wards, save and except brick or stones and mortar; 

 such, I confess, I ever most religiously eschewed, 

 unless very low ones. 



" The chief, indeed only, danger in timber 

 leaping is a horse breasting it, or not raising his 

 knees hi^^h enough : when this is the case, unless 

 it breaks, a fearful somersault is the usual result : 

 but this, if a horse knows his business, mostly 



