THE LIFE OF A HUNTER 55 



to carry a man to hounds. But my master 

 occasionally took me and gave me a day or 

 half a day with hounds. He was never 

 hard, being proud of me, and though he 

 would ride me straight in a short gallop, 

 he never tried me too high. In this way I 

 learned a good deal, and, being very fond of 

 galloping and jumping, was a tractable pupil, 

 and was soon what they called "handy.' 

 By this time I could walk in and out of a 

 horse-box like a Christian, and cared not 

 a dump for engines and steam whistles. 



It was one of the early days in October 

 1879, that, full of beans, I entered Tatter- 

 sail's yard for the first and last time — from 

 that day to this I never changed masters. 

 I was pulled out a great many times on 

 Saturday, and by evening was heartily sick of 



